With a new school year just around the corner, hundreds of teaching positions are still vacant in more than 30 school districts across British Columbia, including Prince George.
Across the region, there are more than 48 positions still to be filled.
"This is unprecedented," said Tim Bennett, chairperson for School District 57.
"We need more teachers. In addition, we are in a state of growth so we need more teachers to be in front of more students."
The hiring spree comes after a Supreme Court of Canada decision last fall, which requires districts throughout the province to hire an additional 3,000 teachers to fulfill class-size and composition requirements, according to Glen Hansman, president of the B.C. Teachers Federation.
But in northern B.C., the question of how to entice more teachers especially into rural communities, remains.
"With this new regulation, it does offer flexibility for new and existing teachers to work in a different community. They can essentially pick where they would like to go," Bennett said.
"Our school district is in a state of growth with about 13,000 students budgeting for the coming year. Other districts, however, are working hard to recruit and retain teachers."
There currently 400 teaching vacancies in B.C.
The Ministry of Education has acknowledged hiring difficulties, especially in rural and remote areas. The government says they are spending $2 million for a Rural and Remote Workforce Sustainability Fund, which includes incentives for teachers moving to rural areas.
In the Williams Lake school district, 12 teachers are still required.
The Cariboo is faced with new challenges since the city's evacuation in July due to wildfires.
According to School District 27 superintendent Mark Wintjes, advertising will continue in places like Ontario to help spread the word.
Various districts are working on recruitment and retention initiatives with the Ministry of Education by offering incentives such as higher wages, paying for moving expenses and allowing for more opportunities to upgrade qualifications, according to the BCTF.
In Prince George, initiatives to bring teachers to the north continues.
"We are working with our provincial counterparts, the city and regional district to promote the benefits of living in the region," Bennett said. "We are not only focused on how we can bring more teachers here, but how we can get them to stay."
-- with files from the Vancouver Sun
