The teacher shortage is being felt across Ontario, with data showing that nearly half of the province's schools are facing a shortage of teaching assistants, according to a new report. According to a People for Education survey, 35 percent of secondary schools report teacher shortages, compared to a quarter of elementary schools.

In addition, the report shows that 25 percent of elementary schools and 38 percent of secondary schools face a shortage of administrative staff (such as assistants) at least once a month. In this regard, the use of unqualified people to compensate for this deficiency has become common, which, according to experts, affects students' learning.

According to Statistics Canada, the average hourly wage for teaching assistants in Ontario is $24. Principals believe that low salaries are one of the reasons for the lack of teaching assistants in classrooms.

A spokesman for Ontario Education Minister Stephen Leche said the Ford government is hiring more staff in the province's schools as the population grows and the number of retired teachers increases.

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