Canada's projected need for skilled trades workers highlights a significant shortage of shop class teachers in high schools. With approximately 700,000 trades workers set to retire by 2028, educators stress the importance of shop classes in attracting students to these careers. Challenges in recruiting tech education teachers arise from low starting salaries compared to the trades and high retraining costs. Advocates like Andy Strothotte are pushing for salary equality to encourage trades professionals to enter teaching, thereby addressing the skills gap the nation faces in construction and infrastructure projects.
"We're working on trying to get salary equality recognized, so that people who have a trades background who have this Red Seal, have years of experience, get a bump up on the pay scale," said Strothotte, who teaches at Westview Secondary School in Maple Ridge, B.C.
"We have a massive shortage of trained teachers," said Andy Strothotte, who has been a shop teacher for 31 years and is president of the British Columbia Technology Education Teachers Association.
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