News Labour Relations Recruitment Retention
Newfoundland and Labrador government, teachers to launch think tank focused on recruitment and retention

Newfoundland and Labrador is planning a think tank with its teachers to support recruitment and retention efforts at schools across the province.

Teachers are facing recruitment and retention challenges that need to be addressed, the province said. The Teachers Think Tank will provide a dedicated forum to hear directly from teachers and determine opportunities to address those challenges head on.

It will include educators, as well as the provincial government, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA) and academia. The goal is to have “solutions-focused discussions that will help strategize innovative short- medium- and long-term measures to build on the recently ratified collective agreement and ultimately improve the retention and recruitment of teachers,”the province said in a press release.

“Teachers play a key role in contributing to the social and economic fabric of our province,” said Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education. “I look forward to the opportunity to bring together educators and stakeholders from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to outline challenges and, more importantly, identify solutions. Our government understands the value of teachers, and we’ll continue to work towards supporting the recruitment and retention of those professionals.”

Trent Langdon, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association, said they have been shining a light on the hidden reality in schools for some time.

“Attention needs to be paid and action taken to address the retention and recruitment challenges facing the K-12 public education system,” said Langdon. “We are pleased with the creation of this Think Tank, including a commitment to give teachers throughout the province a voice in identifying issues that need to be addressed and the types of solutions that would help to improve the situation in our schools. The working conditions for teachers are the learning conditions for students.”