The University of New Brunswick is adding seats to its education programs to meet the growing demand for teachers.

A total of 55 seats will be added to its 10-month Bachelor of Education program. That includes 40 new seats and 15 that were previously announced.

The university is also adding 60 seats to its online Bachelor of Education in early childhood education program.

“In these challenging times for our province and country, we are committed to finding the best ways to support New Brunswickers,” Dr. Paul Mazerolle, president and vice-chancellor, said in a news release.

“The UNB community has crafted a plan to bolster one of our most crucial sectors — education,” Dr. Paul Mazerolle, president and vice chancellor, said in a news release.

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

The news comes as New Brunswick’s education system faces a growing teacher shortage that is expected to worsen in the coming years.

Around 1,000 teachers in the anglophone sector are expected to retire over the next three years, according to the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association.