The New Brunswick Teachers’ Association is calling on the new Liberal government to take quick action on recruitment and retention of teachers ahead of an oncoming wave of retirements.
Peter Legacy, the president of the NBTA, told reporters there is an urgent need to address certain priorities, both short-term and long-term.
“We are committed to working with our new government to address the projected retirement of 1,200 teachers over the next four years, and to fill staffing gaps with qualified teachers,” said Legacy during the press conference.
Teacher shortages and retention have been an ongoing issue in New Brunswick classrooms. Legacy said there must be improvements in working conditions and resources to empower teachers to do what they do best.
He said the NBTA did seek data on where the system is facing its greatest pressure points on teacher shortages, but didn’t reveal the data.
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“I think looking at that now, we can take (it) and really dissect into certain areas of the province, certain schools and almost forecast that we’re going to have a larger number in this area,” he said. “I think we’ve gotten a good first step in that direction.”
Legacy said the data can help fill the gaps in the instability for students in the classroom.
“If I’m going to lose an upper level math or a specialist in that school, where can we find a replacement and start looking at those solutions now and not in June, July and August when the school year is ready to start,” he said.
He said he would like the government to look at increasing the numbers of seats at universities as part of a plan to get more teachers in the classroom, at least for a little bit.
“I think we’ve got to look at capacity. I don’t think we want to get into a place where we have all kinds of teachers without jobs,” he said during the press conference.
Legacy cited gaps are currently being filled by community members without teaching certificates, but also that some schools face daily vacancies.
He said he looks forward to working with several new members of cabinet – who have education included in the recent public mandate letters – which he applauded.
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