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National Chief calls for immediate federal investments as overcrowding and replacement needs worsen
The Assembly of First Nations released an assessment this week showing the infrastructure gap in First Nations schools is getting worse.
The report, issued Sept. 3 as students returned to class, examined 395 schools and more than 1,200 teacher residences on reserve. It found more than 225 schools are overcrowded under federal space standards and 77 require immediate replacement. This means the buildings are in such poor condition, based on age and facility inspections, that they need to be fully replaced rather than repaired or expanded. That number is up by 21 since 2021.
National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak called for immediate federal budget investments to support First Nations children, students and staff. The AFN estimates closing the gap will require $19 billion in capital spending over 20 years, plus $550 million each year for operations and maintenance.
The findings land as another school year begins under conditions many communities have described as inadequate for years. Overcrowding, aging buildings and housing shortages for teachers continue to shape daily learning conditions across the country.
Originally published in the Two Row Times, September 9, 2026 (Volume 14, Issue 4), page 10.
