Packed Classrooms, Stretched Resources: Alberta Schools Strain Under Population Boom
Alberta’s rapid population growth — now nearing five million — is pushing the province’s schools to breaking point, with overcrowded classrooms becoming the norm in major urban centres. Parents in cities like Calgary and Edmonton report children learning in hallways, gyms, and converted libraries, while some schools have paused enrolment due to lack of space. Class sizes of nearly 30 students are common, with gym classes swelling to more than 50. The noise and cramped conditions are prompting some families to hire private tutors to help their children keep up. School boards warn that capacity issues will worsen, with Edmonton Public Schools projecting it will be full by 2028. The crisis comes amid stalled contract talks between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the provincial government, with a potential provincewide strike looming on October 6. Premier Danielle Smith’s government has pledged to hire 3,000 teachers over three years ...
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