UNB adding 115 seats to education programs to meet growing demand for teachers in N.B.

The University of New Brunswick is pictured in Fredericton on Jan. 23, 2024.

The University of New Brunswick is adding more than 100 seats to two of its education programs to meet the growing demand for teachers in the province.

The university said in a news release Wednesday it will add the following in September 2025:

• 55 seats – including 15 that were previously announced and 40 new seats – to its 10-month Bachelor of Education program
• 60 seats to its online Bachelor of Early Childhood Education program

UNB said applicants who are currently on waitlists for the programs will fill the new seats.

“In these challenging times for our province and country, we are committed to finding the best ways to support New Brunswickers. The UNB community has crafted a plan to bolster one of our most crucial sectors — education,” stated Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle, president and vice chancellor at UNB, in the news release.

“By expanding these two key programs, we hope to graduate an additional 115 teachers within the next two years.”

1,000 teachers to retire within 3 years

Last month, the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association (NBTA) called on the New Brunswick government to address and fix issues within the province’s school system.

NBTA President Peter Legacy cited retention and recruitment as significant issues, with nearly 1,000 teachers expected to retire from Anglophone classrooms within three years. Overall, he said 25 per cent of teachers are likely to retire within five years.

Legacy also noted 192 people who are not actually certified to teach were teaching within the Anglophone school districts by the end of 2024.

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson told CTV News last month the department is working with stakeholders to address issues including retention and recruitment and a strategy would be released in the coming weeks.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.