Fae Rad, the education director at a tutoring center called Scholars of Calgary Northwest, is experiencing a surge in inquiries from parents making arrangements for their children due to an upcoming mass walkout by teachers in Alberta. Normally receiving about three calls a week, Rad mentioned that the number has increased significantly, with up to 10 calls in a day since the strike announcement.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association revealed that its 51,000 members would be on strike starting Monday morning after rejecting the province’s latest contract offer by a large margin. Despite a proposed 12% salary increase over four years and a commitment to hire 3,000 additional educators, both sides are still far apart. However, the union disclosed that they have restarted “exploratory conversations.”
As schools gear up to close, the government has prepared an online home curriculum for students and offered parents $30 per day for each child aged 12 and under to assist with child care and tutoring expenses. The payments, estimated to cost between $15 million and $20 million daily, will be retroactive.
Alberta’s Education Minister expressed concern that over 700,000 students in public, separate, and francophone schools will be most affected by the walkout. With classes expected to halt on Monday in most school boards, parents are seeking tutoring services for subjects like math, science, and French for their children during the anticipated strike period.
In response to the strike, the City of Edmonton plans to host educational day camps at various tourist spots, while private businesses are organizing alternative programs like “strike camps.” Students are also stepping in to help, with high schooler Cali Witheridge-Kwan offering babysitting services to assist families impacted by the strike.
While the duration of the strike remains uncertain, union president Jason Schilling emphasized that teachers are advocating for the best interests of children. Meanwhile, Rad expressed skepticism about the government’s toolkit, stating that parents cannot replace teachers regardless of the resources provided.
