As teachers across Alberta hit the picket lines, parents are looking for educational alternatives to fill the gap for their children. In Lethbridge, the Kumon Math and Reading Centre has seen a sudden surge in inquiries from concerned families seeking to maintain their children’s learning progress during the ongoing labor dispute.
“We’ve received about 30 phone calls just in the past week,” says Melanie Johnson, the centre director at Lethbridge Kumon. “Parents are worried their kids will fall behind, especially with final exams and year-end assessments approaching.”
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) announced strike action last week after negotiations with the provincial government reached an impasse. At issue are classroom sizes, support for students with special needs, and teacher compensation that hasn’t kept pace with inflation.
For parents like Sarah Metcalfe, a mother of three school-aged children, the strike has created immediate challenges. “I support teachers getting what they need, but I also worry about my kids. My oldest is in Grade 6, and this is a critical year for her math foundations before junior high.”
Kumon’s self-paced learning model has become particularly attractive during the disruption. The program focuses on building fundamentals in math and reading through daily worksheet practice, offering stability when regular classroom instruction isn’t available.
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange issued a statement yesterday expressing disappointment about the strike’s impact on students. “We remain committed to returning to the bargaining table and reaching an agreement that works for teachers, students, and taxpayers,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Statistics Canada data shows that private tutoring services typically see a 15-20% increase in enrollment during teacher strikes. Beyond Kumon, other educational services across the province are experiencing similar demand spikes.
The Calgary Public Library has expanded its homework help program to accommodate more students during school closures. “We’ve added three additional sessions per week and extended our online support hours,” explains Janice Torres, the library’s education outreach coordinator.
But education advocates warn that supplemental programs, while helpful, aren’t accessible to all families. Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling pointed out in a press conference that “families shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for educational continuity that should be provided through our public system.”
A recent poll by Angus Reid indicates that 68% of Alberta parents are concerned about educational disruptions, with 42% actively seeking alternatives during the strike.
For now, centres like Kumon are adapting to meet the sudden demand. “We’re extending our hours and bringing in additional instructors,” Johnson says. “We’re trying to accommodate as many families as possible during this uncertain time.”
Grade 12 student Miguel Fernandez has taken matters into his own hands, forming study groups with classmates at a local coffee shop. “We’re pooling our notes and resources. Some of us who are stronger in certain subjects are helping others. It’s not ideal, but we’re making it work.”
The province has suggested the strike could last several weeks, leaving parents to continue cobbling together educational support. School boards are providing some online resources, but the hands-on instruction many students need remains largely unavailable.
Back at the Kumon centre, Johnson explains that while they’re happy to help during the strike, their program works best as a long-term educational supplement. “We’re designed to build skills over time, not as emergency coverage. But we understand parents need immediate solutions right now.”
The situation highlights broader questions about educational resilience in Alberta. When normal instruction is disrupted, the burden often falls on families to find and fund alternatives. “This isn’t just about a temporary strike,” notes education policy researcher Dr. Amal Sinha at the University of Calgary. “It reveals structural vulnerabilities in how we deliver education and support learning continuity.”
As both sides continue negotiations, one thing remains clear: Alberta’s educational landscape is showing remarkable adaptability, with communities stepping up to support student learning despite the circumstances. Whether through formal programs like Kumon, community initiatives, or impromptu study groups, the pursuit of education continues even as schools sit empty.