The president of the New Brunswick Teachers Association says districts always struggle to fill every position at the beginning of the school year due to a shortage of teachers in the province.
Rick Cuming says with COVID-19, it has been especially difficult finding them on a temporary basis to fill in for teachers who have symptoms, “I do know there is a huge supply teacher issue for sure in most of the regions.”
More teachers were needed at the beginning of this school due to new protocols put into place due to COVID-19.
“The beginning of the school year, the districts are always going to scramble to find and fill every position that is out there, because we generally have a lack of teachers in the province. In a normal year, finding those positions would be also difficult,” Cuming says.
He adds in the Campbellton region, because they are in an outbreak situation, it has been especially stressful right now for educators.
“People are going to be more aware of their symptoms, and there is going to be more need for more supply teachers and they just aren’t out there to fill those positions,” Cuming says.
