October 30, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Thousands of students across Alberta, including many in Calgary, walked out of class Thursday morning to show support for teachers who were forced back to work under the province’s Back to School Act earlier this week.
According to organizers, demonstrations began at 11 a.m. and involved students from dozens of high schools provincewide. The walkouts were coordinated through social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
Students say they wanted to express solidarity with teachers and voice frustration over classroom conditions and the government’s handling of the labour dispute. Many also raised concerns about having to make up nearly a month of missed instruction following the three-week teachers’ strike.
With diploma exams scheduled in the coming weeks, an online petition calling for the cancellation or postponement of January exams has already attracted thousands of signatures.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides defended the government’s decision to legislate teachers back to work — and invoke the Charter’s notwithstanding clause — saying the move was necessary to protect students’ education and restore stability in classrooms.
Meanwhile, the Alberta Federation of Labour has indicated it is preparing for possible provincewide job action in response to the government’s use of the legislation, though any large-scale strike would take time to organize.
Loading ...
