EDMONTON — Alberta’s government says it is investing $600 million over three years to expand the use of modular classrooms as schools across the province face mounting enrollment pressures.
The province says more than 80,000 students have been added to Alberta classrooms over the past three years, driven by population growth and migration, leaving many schools short on space.
As part of the plan, $200 million will be spent this year to support 189 new modular classrooms, along with 12 washroom units, 10 replacements and 29 relocations. The province says the additions will create about 5,450 new student spaces in high-demand communities for the 2026-27 school year.
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the government is working to keep pace with rapid enrollment growth.
“Student enrollment is growing, and we’re making sure schools can keep up,” Nicolaides said. “Modular classrooms help relieve crowding in the meantime, while permanent schools are built.”
Infrastructure Minister Martin Long said the approach allows the province to respond quickly in fast-growing areas.
“Albertans expect classrooms to be ready when they’re needed,” Long said. “This funding allows Alberta Infrastructure to add classroom space quickly in communities experiencing rapid growth, giving students and teachers safe, functional facilities immediately while permanent schools continue to be built.”
The modular expansion is part of the province’s broader $8.6-billion Schools Now program, which aims to create or modernize more than 200,000 student spaces by 2031-32. Modular classrooms are expected to account for about 20,000 of those spaces.
School boards say the added space will help ease immediate pressures.
Laura Hack, chair of the Calgary Board of Education, said dozens of new modular units in Calgary will significantly increase capacity.
“These additional classrooms will make a meaningful difference for students and families,” Hack said, adding the expansion is roughly equivalent to building two new elementary schools and will allow more students to attend classes closer to home.
Sandra Palazzo, board chair with Edmonton Catholic Schools, said her division will receive 31 additional classrooms next school year.
“These intentionally designed learning spaces will help relieve overcrowding in 11 schools,” Palazzo said, calling the investment a response to continued enrollment growth.
The province says modular classrooms can typically be installed and operational within eight to 12 months, making them a faster option than permanent construction while longer-term school projects continue.
There are currently 161 school construction and modernization projects underway across Alberta.
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