Alberta government announces changes to get more instructors into classrooms

Alberta’s government is making some changes to get more instructors into classrooms by allowing more people to qualify as teachers.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced four new expedited teaching certificates on Friday to help qualified people enter classrooms sooner.

The new certificates will allow bachelor of education students in their final year of study to begin teaching. They will also apply to internationally trained teachers, tradespeople and other skilled professionals with relevant expertise in their fields.

“As classroom needs continue to grow, students need teachers with diverse skills and experience. These new certificates will fast-track qualified professionals into high-need classrooms, uphold strong standards and give school boards greater flexibility to support students locally,” Nicolaides said in a news release that announced the changes.

The minister said with 80,000 students joining Alberta’s classrooms in just three years, the need for more teachers is greater than ever.

All expedited certificate holders must complete preparation training before entering the classroom, the province says. They will also be closely supervised by a designated teacher leader, such as a school principal, and will be supported throughout their placement.

Candidates will be able to apply starting June 1.

Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers Association, noted his group helped make sure people entering teaching through expedited pathways will be required to complete prerequisite coursework and a practicum.

But he said teachers are “being pushed to their limits” by larger and more complex classes and “the loss of their charter rights” — a reference to back-to-work legislation the Alberta government passed last fall to end a teachers strike.

“We can recruit new teachers, but we won’t retain them unless teaching and learning conditions improve,” Schilling said in a news release.

“Recruitment opens the door, but retention keeps teachers in classrooms.

The province says candidates pursuing the trades or specialized certificate pathways to teaching must complete four initial post-secondary courses in teacher preparation before entering the classroom, including a supervised practicum.

Then, after entering the classroom, candidates complete six additional courses over a three-year period, while actively teaching.

School boards will continue to oversee hiring and classroom placement decisions, the province says.

The province says close to 800 out-of-province teachers are certified each year to teach in Alberta classrooms.