Manitoba adds over 800 teaching positions in two years

A stock photo showing an empty classroom. (Unsplash/ Nathan Cima)

More teachers have been added to Manitoba classrooms in an effort to approve student outcomes, according to an announcement by the province.

On Wednesday, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt revealed that the government has added 832 teaching jobs across the province since October 2023. This brings the number of funded teachers to 13,903 – up from 13,071 two years ago.

The government also added 577 other educational roles since 2023, as well as 72 more clinician position.

At a news conference, Schmidt said school divisions plan to hire 416 teachers in the 2025/26 school year, in addition to the 416 who were hired last year.

“More teachers means smaller class sizes. More teachers means you get more attention from your teachers and that you have a better relationship with your teachers,” she said.

“You have more one-on-one time. You can get to know them better.”

The province noted it has taken several initiatives to attract and retain teachers in Manitoba, including implementing new teacher certificate requirements, creating retention strategies for French-language teachers and easing the pathway of certification for internationally educated teachers.

There’s also more opportunity for training with new bachelor of education programs at the Canadian Mennonite University and Yellowquill University College, as well as 20 new bachelor of education spots at Université de Saint-Boniface.

In addition to hiring more teachers, the province said it’s investing in student well-being through other initiatives, including $30 million for the Universal School Nutrition program.

Wayne Ewasko, the education critic for the Progressive Conservatives, said the NDP is taking credit for work the Progressive Conservatives did when they were in power.

“It was us that planted those trees,” he said. “They’re just there to get on their little stepstool and pick the fruit from the branches.”

More information on school funding is available online.