Alberta’s education system is grappling with its most severe teacher shortage in a generation, with over 1,400 positions unfilled as the 2025–26 school year begins, disproportionately affecting rural and remote communities.
The Numbers
Data from the Alberta Teachers’ Association shows vacancies across all subject areas, with the most acute shortages in mathematics, sciences, French immersion, and special education. Rural school divisions report vacancy rates as high as 12%, compared to 4% in urban centres.
“We have schools starting the year without enough teachers to cover all their classes,” said ATA president Jason Schilling. “Students in rural Alberta are getting a fundamentally different — and inferior — education than their urban counterparts.”
Root Causes
The shortage reflects a combination of factors: retirements outpacing new graduates, lower compensation compared to neighbouring provinces, rising housing costs in smaller communities, and pandemic-era burnout that drove many teachers out of the profession.
Stopgap Measures
School boards have resorted to hiring substitute teachers for permanent positions, combining classes, and in some cases reducing course offerings. The Palliser School Division in southern Alberta has hired teachers from overseas to fill critical gaps.
“I’m teaching three subjects I’m not qualified for because there’s no one else,” said a rural high school teacher who asked not to be named. “The students deserve better.”
The provincial government has announced a $30-million teacher recruitment and retention package, including bursaries for education students who commit to teaching in rural communities and relocation assistance for out-of-province hires.
