Government Funding More Teachers for Rural Alberta

The Government of Alberta has announced new funding to help train more teachers for rural Albertan communities.

New funding for student spaces in two post-secondary education programs will help recruit and train rural, remote and Indigenous teachers across Alberta.

A one-time investment of more than $1.7 million to community-based Bachelor of Education programs at the University of Calgary and University of Alberta will support 59 students in pursuing their teaching careers within their home rural, remote and First Nations communities. 

Rural, remote and Indigenous communities often experience difficulties recruiting and retaining teachers for their classrooms, although it is shown those who can study closer to home are more likely to remain in their home community after they finish their education. By enabling students to complete most of their studies while living and working in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, Alberta’s government aims to help address the challenges of recruitment and retention.

The University of Calgary’s Bachelor of Education Community-Based After-Degree Program within the Werklund School of Education provides opportunities for students to be a part of their rural and northern community school system for most of their degree. Student cohorts supported by this one-time funding will begin their respective programs starting September 2024 at the University of Calgary and September 2025 at the University of Alberta.