Recruiting teachers since the pandemic has been unlike anything seen in Nova Scotia since World War II.

That’s according to Deputy Education minister Tracey Barbrick, who says the student population has grown by 10,000 in the last four years.

She told the Standing Committee on Human Resources on Tuesday that efforts to recruit teachers are showing progress, and student enrollment is stabilizing.

However, there are still pressures in specific areas.

“French, STEM and skilled trades remain hard to recruit subject areas provincewide. And all regions and CSAP report a high need for teachers that are Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian,” said Barbrick.

There are about 10,000 teachers in Nova Scotia and 3,000 substitutes, Barbrick says that’s enough to staff every classroom.

“We have a very high retention rate, issuing about 850 teaching certificates last year. Since 2019/20, Bachelor of Education seats have increased from 300 to 550.”

She says they’ve added over 1,400 professionals to the education system.

She adds strong recruitment is key to continuing to build a stable workforce.

Teachers feeling burned out, says NSTU

Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union says teachers are being asked to do more with less.

President Peter Day says there needs to be a better retention plan.

“Data shows a third of new teachers leave the profession within the first five years,” Day told the committee.

“That represents a significant loss of talent, training and public investment. It also reflects a human cost to educators who enter the profession with passion and commitment, only to find the working conditions unsustainable.”

He says we need to be vigilant to make sure the needs of all students are being met.

“We cannot recruit our way out of a shortage if we continue to lose teachers at the current rate.”