Tag: teacher crisis
Third edition of the Parachute Educator Survey Series reveals why educator overwhelm is the norm and not the exception.
Ottawa, February 5, 2026 – The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) has released the first findings of the Fall 2025 edition of Parachute, its pan-Canadian educator survey series, examining the realities driving Canada’s teacher retention and recruitment crisis. With almost 7,000 completed responses from teachers, principals, vice-principals, and education workers across the country, this edition turns its focus to the dual forces now defining public education: class size and classroom complexity.
What the data shows is stark: Class sizes are rising; complexity is escalating; and the time teachers have to teach is shrinking. Together, these conditions are reshaping the learning environment for millions of students—and pushing educators to the brink.
Class Size Isn’t the Whole Story
Average class sizes in Canada already sit high at 22–26 students, with some K–6 teachers reporting classes that exceed 40, 50, and even 60 students. Teachers in classes of 26 or more students are less likely to report having access to adequate education assistants or specialized support personnel. In other words, 26+ often marks the moment where the classroom stops behaving like a “teaching unit” and starts behaving like a triage unit. But educators are clear: the issue is not size alone. Even small classes are becoming unmanageable as complexity intensifies.
Complexity Is the True Breaking Point
Inside a typical K–6 classroom of 22 students, teachers now navigate a multi-layered mix of behavioural, learning, emotional, linguistic, and socioeconomic needs—often without the supports designed to meet them. 80% of educators say they lack adequate access to specialized supports like educational assistants, resource teachers, psychologists, and behaviour interventionists. And 25%–30% educators report that they are rarely or never able to provide the supports outlined in their students’ Individualized Education Plans.
The result is predictable: teachers are spending less time teaching, more time trying to plug widening gaps, and students’ learning potential suffers. Across all grades, direct instruction accounts for just ~36% of classroom time. In K–6, one in four minutes is lost to behaviour management.
“ If you look across at any jurisdiction, province or territory, you’re going to see similar issues…troubles with retention and recruitment fueled by class sizes, class complexity, class composition, increasing violence in schools…” said Clint Johnston, President of the CTF/FCE in a recent SOURCE podcast conversation with ATA President Jason Schilling. “But I often think that there’s a root cause that’s not being talked about and that is the funding piece: it just seems like provincial and territorial governments aren’t willing to take the steps that they know are needed.”
What Educators Say Must Change
Educators across the country identified three urgent priorities:
- Enforceable class composition provisions;
- Legal standards for student–teacher ratios;
- Increased funding for specialized supports.
The findings from the Fall 2025 Parachute survey reinforce a growing national reality: students who need help aren’t getting it, and teachers cannot continue filling every gap alone. Class size and complexity are inextricable realities. Addressing them requires long-term, incremental systemic shifts to safeguard a profession on the edge of collapse—and essential to ensuring Canadian public schools remain a sustainable and equitable learning environment for all.
About the Parachute Educator Survey Series
The Parachute survey series is open to education professionals, including teachers, principals, education assistants, and support workers. It is an initiative of the CTF/FCE, in partnership with its 18 provincial and territorial Member and Associate Organizations. The series informs the CTF/FCE’s pan-Canadian Retention & Recruitment Strategy: a 3-year initiative aimed at addressing the systemic issues fueling the attrition crisis.
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About the CTF/FCE
Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 370,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 33-million educators.
Media Contact
Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
[email protected]
Mobile: 613-688-4319
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation releases latest results of Parachute, a pan-Canadian educator survey series. Second edition reveals key insights into why teachers stay—and why many are preparing to leave.
July 17, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) has released initial findings of the Spring 2025 edition of its national Parachute survey series—a 3-year scan of the teaching profession to gather vital data on the issues fueling Canada’s retention and recruitment crisis.
This second edition of Parachute focused on the urgent question of teacher and education worker attrition—examining what motivates educators to enter and stay in the profession, and what compels them to consider leaving. With over 5,000 completed responses and strong representation from across the country, the Spring 2025 survey underscores an ongoing crisis in teacher retention, while clearly reaffirming that what keeps educators committed is their students.
Key findings from the Spring 2025 edition include:
- Nearly 1 in 2 educators (45%) have considered leaving the profession in the past year;
- 39% reported having also considered taking a sick leave, and 38% a personal leave;
- Despite this, 93% say working with students remains a core reason they stay in the profession;
- Perceptions of working conditions have improved slightly since Fall 2024 – but only 50% agree they have a safe working environment. Aggression and violence in schools are an unremitting issue;
- Professional value remains a pressing concern: a majority say they feel undervalued by the public, with 1 in 10 reporting they “never” feel valued.
- When asked what change would make the biggest positive impact on their work, the overwhelming response was smaller class sizes.
“The story emerging is one of dedication – and exhaustion,” said Clint Johnston, President of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation. “Teachers remain deeply committed to their students. But if we don’t address systemic issues like class size, workload, and professional respect, attrition rates will continue to rise, and students will suffer the greatest cost of government inaction.”
The Fall 2025 survey will examine the key issue of Class Size and Classroom Complexity.
About the Parachute Educator Survey Series
The Parachute survey series is open to education professionals, including teachers, principals, education assistants, and support workers. It is an initiative of the CTF/FCE, in partnership with its 18 provincial and territorial Member and Associate Organizations. The series informs the CTF/FCE’s pan-Canadian Retention & Recruitment Strategy: a 3-year initiative aimed at addressing the systemic issues fueling the attrition crisis.
For more information, visit the CTF/FCE’s Take Action webpage.
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About the CTF/FCE
Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 370,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 33-million educators.
Media Contact
Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
[email protected]
Mobile: 613-688-4319
In Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation, the Government of Canada recognized affordability issues facing Canadians and sought measures to address them.
This budget is ambitious; many progressive organizations recognize the significant changes it aims to bring to the lives of Canadians. By decreasing the exemption on capital gains over $250,000 and asking the wealthiest Canadians to pay more, the federal government is slowly turning the dial on making social programming accessible for those who need it most.
In February 2024, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) met with the Minister of Finance to outline three key priorities that we felt would make life more affordable for families living in Canada from the perspective of Canadian teachers.
The CTF/FCE is thrilled to say that those three asks, shared with the Government of Canada, have been included in Budget 2024: the introduction of a National School Food Program, increased mental health supports for young Canadians, and loan forgiveness for teachers and early childhood educators living and working in rural and remote communities.
School Food
Announced earlier this year, the federal government has committed money to a National School Food Program. This will be significant in changing the lives of children and families in Canada. The CTF/FCE will continue to monitor the developments of this exciting initiative. The federal government has already initiated communications with the CTF/FCE to discuss next steps.
Budget 2024 announces the creation of a National School Food Program, which will provide $1 billion over five years to Employment and Social Development Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada, starting in 2024-25, to work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to expand access to school food programs. This includes investments for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities as well as Self-Governing and Modern Treaty Partners, many of whom have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada.
(Page 111)
Loan Forgiveness
The federal government has stated that it intends to expand the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program to include both teachers and early childhood educators who work in a rural or remote area. This initiative will mean more young adults entering the profession will be willing and able to relocate to and stay in remote and rural communities. (A knock-on effect will be making Canada less focused on major urban areas, and – in turn – supporting development in small and medium sized communities across the country). We commend the federal government for listening to a direct CTF/FCE ask in recent consultations on addressing the labour shortage in rural and remote communities while also helping to alleviate, in some small way, the retention and recruitment crisis facing public education.
While we wait for more details on the eligibility, for reference, nurses qualify for $30,000 in federal student loan forgiveness when they work in a rural or remote community. As per the federal government’s definition, “under-served rural or remote community is one located outside of: metropolitan areas, areas with an urban core population of 50,000 or more, and provincial capitals”. It is the CTF/FCE’s understanding that the federal government is currently working to expand the definition of a rural/remote community to those communities under 30,000 people in population.
See more details about the current programming offered to doctors and nurses here: Canada student loan forgiveness for family doctors and nurses.
Budget 2024 announces the government’s intent to introduce amendments to the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act and the Canada Student Loans Act to permanently expand the reach of the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program to more health care and social services professionals working in rural and remote communities:
Dentists; Dental hygienists; Pharmacists; Midwives; Teachers; Social workers; Personal support workers; Physiotherapists; and, Psychologists.
(Page 123)
Mental Health Supports
The federal government has committed to setting up a Youth Mental Health Fund to help community health organizations provide greater access for younger Canadians and young adults to mental health resources. While the funding commitment is low, it is a good starting point. The CTF/FCE will monitor this commitment closely to see how this directly impacts students, teachers, and their families.
Budget 2024 proposes to provide $500 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, for the creation of a new Youth Mental Health Fund which will help younger Canadians access the mental health care they need.
(Page 127)
Overall, this budget is the first budget in a long-time that the CTF/FCE can confidently say delivered on our asks. It is a budget that will seek to make an improvement in the lives of Canadian teachers and their families. While there is so much work to be done on the federal and provincial/territorial level, this is a big step in the right direction.
The CTF/FCE recognizes that other organizations are doing great work, and we’d like to highlight other progressive organizations’ reaction to the 2024 federal budget:
About the CTF/FCE
Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 365,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 32-million educators.
Media contact
Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Contact
Mobile: 613-606-7809
Ottawa, Monday, April 1, 2024 – The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) expressed their appreciation to the federal government for taking a significant step towards ensuring all Canadian children have access to healthy and nutritious meals while at school. The government’s announcement of a significant investment to support a Universal School Food Program is a monumental step toward addressing the critical issue of food insecurity in our nation and to helping all children thrive in school. The federal government will invest $1 billion, to be distributed by provinces and territories over a period of 5 years, with $200 million being allocated each year.
The CTF/FCE has been advocating for this program for over a decade, collaborating in recent years with organizations such as the Breakfast Clubs of Canada and the Coalition for Healthy School Food to make it a reality. We firmly believe that such initiatives are essential in fostering equitable access to education and promoting the well-being of Canadian families. “We are thrilled that the Government has taken this momentous step for Canada and joined the rest of the G7, and most other countries in the world, in recognizing the critical importance of school food,” said Debbie Field, Coordinator of the Coalition for Healthy School Food.
The President of the CTF/FCE, Heidi Yetman, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating that it is not just a matter of policy but a moral imperative. “With more families struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, the implementation of a Universal School Food Program is necessary to ensure that students have access to nutritious meals. This program will also contribute greatly to creating more conducive learning environments and supporting students’ overall success”.
The CTF/FCE thanks the federal government, leaders in the school food sector, its members and partners, and all Canadians who worked together to ensure that every child in Canada has access to nutritious food, empowering them to reach their full potential.
About the CTF/FCE
Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 365,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 32-million educators.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Contact
Mobile: 613-606-7809
Ottawa, March 12, 2024 – Canada is among the world’s top 10 wealthiest countries; and yet, millions of students are going to school hungry and under nourished. This needs to change.
Regardless of geography or family income, every child deserves access to healthy and nutritious meals at school.
As record number of families are grappling with the skyrocketing cost of living, it is imperative that the federal government take action to make life more affordable: this includes ensuring students in our public education system are well-fed. The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) calls on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland to ensure that a Pan-Canadian School Food Program is included in Budget 2024.
Join our call to ensure all students in Canada have access to nutritious food.
“When students are not fed, classrooms suffer. A Pan-Canadian School Food Program would alleviate food insecurity and contribute to a healthier school environment for all.”
Heidi Yetman, President, CTF/FCE
Email your Member of Parliament, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, urging them to ensure that a Pan-Canadian School Food Program is included in Budget 2024.
About the CTF/FCE
Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 365,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 32-million educators.
Media contact
Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Contact
Mobile: 613-606-7809
Ottawa, November 21, 2023 – The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) Board of Directors is set to convene in Ottawa on November 21 and 22, urgently tackling the nationwide challenge looming over public education: the teacher retention and recruitment crisis. This critical meeting is poised to address the need for immediate, collective actions to combat the challenges faced by education personnel across the nation.
Poor working conditions lie at the heart of the crisis. Untenable classroom sizes and complexity have only increased. Students with special needs lack adequate support and resources. Psychological and physical violence is statistically on the rise. Other complex factors have contributed to this crisis, including fluctuations in student populations, and declining enrollment in education faculties. Regrettably, 100% of the CTF/FCE’s Member and Associate Organizations have indicated that unqualified teachers are holding positions in schools from coast to coast to coast.
Heidi Yetman, President of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, underscores the gravity of the situation: “There is no shortage of teachers, but rather a shortage of decent working conditions. Canada has reached a critical juncture, and it is imperative that provincial and territorial governments invest in public education. Collaboration with union counterparts is crucial in finding solutions. Only through working together can we ensure that every child has a qualified teacher in their classroom. Quality publicly funded education is indispensable for a healthy and prosperous society.”
About the CTF/FCE
Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 365,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 32-million educators.
Media contact
Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Contact
Mobile: 613-606-7809
