Classroom complexity committee a good step: ATA
By Lethbridge Herald on November 8, 2025.
Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
The Alberta Teachers Association and Opposition NDP responded differently to Friday’s announcement by the UCP government that a class six and complexity cabinet committee had been struck.
Jason Schilling, president of the ATA said teachers have been sounding the alarm about what’s happening in their classrooms with overcrowding, rising complexity and a lack of supports for students and for too long those concerns were ignored.
“But the voices of 51,000 teachers and school leaders united through the largest job action in history, forced the Premier and the Minister of Education to confront what teachers, parents and students have been saying all along,” said Schilling.
He said the decision of the government to create the cabinet committee, coupled with the decision to collect class size data once again, is not just a policy shift, it’s proof that teachers were heard.
“The committee membership includes the Premier and four ministers. Unlike previous committees and commissions, it will bring together those who have real power and capacity to act,” said Schilling.
He said the ATA earned a seat on this committee and will fully engage bringing not only the profession’s expertise and teachers lived experience of the challenges facing them, but real practical solutions to improve conditions for students and teachers alike.
“The premier’s own reference to returning to Alberta Commission on Learning or a cold class size targets is an admission that smaller classes matter, that support for diversity needs matters as well, and that teachers were right to fight for these issues,” said Schilling.
He said the ATA views these actions as a step in the right direction and will hold government accountable for results.
“We will not settle for nice words and empty recommendations. Teachers and parents expect real change, not another report collecting dust. Will the government deliver on its word? Time will tell,” said Schilling. “But make no mistake, we will be there every step of the way, making every effort to ensure that they do.”
He said the government must show that it is ready to repair the damage, rebuild trust and finally do right by Alberta’s public education system.
“There are things that we can do right now to address the concerns within our classrooms. If we have classes that are in the 40s that we’re splitting those classrooms as best as we can, or to get more people and supports within that area,” said Schilling.
He said that by including ministers from other ministries in that cabinet committee was a good idea because within certain communities they might have only one or two occupational therapists who work for the entire student population in a school district.
“We need more speech pathologists, more programming for students with special needs, educational assistance with training to work with some of our most severe students. Those are actionable things that we can do that makes the real difference now,” said Schilling.
He said they are aware there are things in the longer-term goals like building modular classrooms and more schools but getting that extra help in the classrooms will help alleviate the issues while waiting for infrastructure to be built.
Alberta’s New Democrat Shadow Minister for Education, Amanda Chapman called the cabinet committee, the UCP government’s “distraction from action” committee in her response, and said they are announcing yet another committee to fix the issues in education they created.
“The UCP government had the opportunity to take action back in 2023 when Alberta’s New Democrats tabled a Bill for classroom size and complexity reporting to be reinstated, but they voted it down,” said Chapman.
She said it is unfortunate it took this long for the government to realize how important this work is.
“My message is clear: get to work and get the work done ASAP so teachers and students have safe and supportive learning environments.”
20-19
lol. Just spit out my coffee. ATA thinks it is a good idea. After leaving kids at home for three weeks, demanding 2 billion more, probably supporting recalls, full frontal attack on a duly elected government, screeching endlessly about read in charter rights, suddenly the committee that was established in July is a good idea. What a bunch of malcontent children. I am sure there are plenty of teachers who are utterly embarrassed by this ATA performance and wished they had opt out ability from the dues and their representation. Here is the vote tally for the latest ATA election
Schilling – 5619
MacKay – 5263.
Total – 10,882.
21% of teachers appear to have voted. Says a lot about our teachers in a good way.
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=95165F2D98747-B448-1FBE-E357DE1A8E9CF1CB