Alberta Budget Adds $1.1B for Education, but Critics Say More is Needed

Alberta’s Budget 2025 is adding $1.1 billion over three years to help schools manage rising enrolment, with the province saying the funding will allow school divisions to hire more than 4,000 teachers, educational assistants, and support staff.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the money will help reduce class sizes and bring more resources into classrooms. However, when asked if the funds could be used to end ongoing support staff strikes, Nicolaides said individual school divisions will decide how to allocate their budgets.

While the Alberta School Boards Association welcomes the investment, critics argue it doesn’t go far enough. The Alberta Teachers’ Association points out that despite the funding boost, Alberta still has some of the lowest per-capita education funding in Canada while facing the country’s fastest-growing student population. The NDP is calling for a long-term plan to close the funding gap and address wage disparities fueling labour disputes.