Being a bit of a wonk I've been looking at the data coming out of the Ontario University Application Centre. The 2013 admissions data for Ontario teachers colleges is out and it points to a continuation of a long-term decline in the number of applicants. Some might take this as a bell-weather for future turmoil for other professional training programs.
.png)
When one looks at the specific program data a couple trends appear. French language programs are holding up better than English language programs; however, the French language programs still face declines in the range of -10.0%. The next trend is that programs focused on technological studies face declines of approximately -38.0%; although, this may be linked to the closure of a specific program (I'm unclear on why this decline is so high).
The employment prospects for teachers college graduates continue to be is dire. There's simply a vast over-supply of graduates and arguably there's an extremely troubling insider-outsider dichotomy engaged in relation to the teaching profession in Ontario. The majority of recent graduates are unemployed or underemployed. Graduates that are able to find work often have to move to remote locales in other parts of the country.
.png)
There's further room to reduce the number of teachers college students in Ontario. In 2012 there were approximately 6,940 students in Ontario's teachers colleges. There's plenty of room of cut that number by half without much of a real world impact (aside from unemployed professors and administrative staff). Ideally some of the under-performing education faculties could be eliminated entirely via attrition while high-performing ones could be strengthened.
The failure of the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities to address the over-supply of graduates from teachers colleges is a massive oversight failure and the current draw-down of students continues to be a policy blunder. Over a decade ago the MTCU predicted a shortage of teachers and then didn't act once the original forecast was shown to be erroneous. Thousands of students have wasted valuable time and were forced into debt when they had little chance of obtaining a teaching position.
The media haven't latched onto this story yet and it'll be interesting to see how universities attempt to gloss over the collapse of the demand for teachers college in Ontario. Take a look at the following articles for some additional context, see: here, here, here, and here. I've written a number of pieces about the problems facing recent teachers college graduates, see: here, here, here, and here. Take a look at the video below for an overview of the problem, see:
Additionally, the oversupply of teachers in Ontario is affected by:
ReplyDelete1. The influx of internationally educated immigrant teachers who become part of the profession every year.
2. U.S. "Border College" teacher grads who predominately live in and come back to Ontario.
3. Other International teacher programs which are accredited by Ontario and the OCT (e.g- Australia, New Zealand).
These 3 components make up about 20-30% of the 12,000 or so new teachers that are certified in the province every year.
Lastly, over the past decade and especially after post-recession 2008, teachers have increasingly delayed retirement. In Ontario, on average less than 5,000 teachers are retiring per year.
-Mike M
mmindzak@uwo.ca
Immigrant teachers are legally entitled to work in Canada and have invested as much and more than non immigrant teachers. If they are certified by the OCT it is their legal entitlement to compete with the local workforce. They often bring innovative teaching methods and let's not forget their teacher training programmes have been assessed and match the Ontario standard. Canadian students are suffering as a result of non-transparent hiring practices and the huge oversupply of teachers as mentioned in the article. Some boards are guilty of mass nepotism (TCDSB) and the Minister of Educations move to reinforce nepotism further exasporates an already backward system by blocking enthusiastic, passionate and hardworking teachers from entering the profession. The universities are carrying on regardless, making massive money on useless AQ courses that are often taught by retired teachers. Retired Supply Teachers on already large pensions falling asleep (TCDSB) in Ontario classrooms while highly qualified candidates cannot get onto supply lists is a disgrace.
ReplyDeletewe need to allow Canadian trained first for the jobs then elsewhere if no suitable candidates apply. Retirees should stay retired for sure but lets give our Canadian trained people first dibs at teaching our students. Dont leave others with the qualifications out in the cold looking for employment after spending their hard earned money here at home. Canada first. obtw I am an immigrant and feel that we have been given opportunities and Canadians have been told to stand back. Equal opportunities are fine but I still feel we need to keep the circle of employment going to those that have spent their money getting educated here first.
DeleteWas think of retiring to look after elderly parents. This would free up a full time position and was hoping to supply, but because of all the hassle decided to stay on full time and get help with parents. Sorry to the person that would have got a full time position though.
DeleteYes and they steal from Canadian educated teachers who know more about the culture of Canadian students than the immigrants. Anyone who wants to teach in Canada must go through the process of Canadian Education Programme offered by the Faculties of Education of Canadian Universities. It would be a disgrace to just hire a "teacher" certified by another country when such may be out of par in standards as the Canadian Education System.
ReplyDeleteMike M: Not to mention the Inter-Provincial recognition of any teacher coming from any province will be considered "certified" in that province. And the fact that the College of Teachers "granted" satellite universities the power to offer Faculty of Education programmes so any Joe or Jane Blow can be certified now a days. Is being a certified teacher still "special"? Not anymore.
"Steal from Canadian educated teachers" Nobody is stealing anything. These teachers are certified by the OCT which means that their education is on a par or superior to the Canadian equivalent. Canada is a nation of immigrants. Many Canadian schools were founded by immigrants as was the country. Many of Canada"s students are immigrants. The issue is an oversupply of teachers that neither the OCT, The Ministry or the universities are willing to address. Too much money is being made. Don't highlight your ignorance by blaming immigrants. Many Canadians are proud of the diversity of this country and the contributions that foreign educated people bring. Do you really want Canada to be a small backward and insular country? Perhaps. ..
ReplyDeleteAnd sooner or later, these "immigrants" you call will sue the schools for who they are so that they could have a MUSLIM prayer in their school - it is happening now at Valley Park Middle School - yes a public school that has MUSLIM PRAYERS in it on Fridays - because the MUSLIMS DEMANDED IT.
DeleteMuslims! Praying! OMG, the sky must be falling. I had to pray everyday in public school (not just on Fridays) and I turned out alright.
DeleteThank you for this piece. I think something worth mentioning is how privilege comes into play. Many people who come to teaching later in life have families, bills, responsibilities that require a steady income and cannot afford to donate their time to the volunteer culture that has become common place in Toronto's school boards.
ReplyDeleteI know of many young graduates who still live at home and have parents who pay their bills, who are able to volunteer once or twice a week during the week at different schools, acquainting themselves with principals and "getting their foot in the door" while many of their older or less-privileged classmates have to take a more available job that is not related to teaching just to make ends meet. Not everyone has a fair chance once they graduate.
I completely agree with you. I'm in my mid-30s, and I went to teacher's college thinking that if anything I'd have an advantage over a lot of the younger, less experienced (in terms of life, work, etc.) students that graduated. However, I now realize that was very shortsighted of me.
DeleteI can't afford to volunteer during the day and kiss up to a principal for the next 6 months just so I can get "recommended" for an interview to be placed on the board's supply list. So, I've had to take a low-paying secretarial job to make ends meet. Frustrating.
I'm in the same boat. I graduated in 2008 from Nipissing and thought with my experience and education, I'd be a shoe in for a job. Was I ever wrong? I quickly learned that if you don't volunteer, getting on the supply list is almost impossible. I now run my own daycare and don't have to deal with the politics of it all. However, I feel jipped for wasting my money on Teacher's College and still would like to teach in an Ontario school one day. I have lots of passion for teaching.
DeleteThe situation is now so dire that even international positions are receiving massive numbers of applicants. What is wrong? Obviously too many people have become teachers. Being young gives you the chance to look elsewhere at the many exciting jobs. An older person doesn't have this option, and is stuck competing against younger grads who are favored in order to cut costs. Lessons to be learned: have multiple options for jobs. Teaching is too narrow, and will lead to a dead end, where you can't find work. If you are teaching now, do something else in the summer that will give you job experience. Good luck- times are tough.
ReplyDeleteCanadian Public Schools have high number of immigrant kids. You know canadian do not want to have kids until 40. I think its not to bad having immigrant teachres as role model.
ReplyDeleteTeacher's College is worth it if you can find a principal to vouch for you so that he/she can recommend you for a board interview. Kissing ass has become a necessary thing to do to get hired by a school board.
ReplyDeleteBut please be aware of something: unfortunately, the very people who initially help you get your foot in the door so to speak, end up being the ones who stab you in the back. Once you get hired, trust no one! Be nice and friendly, but be guarded, and trust no one. I mean it. At the end of the day, the human condition is such that most people are only really out for themselves. I hate to be the bearer of this news, but it is truer than true. All the best.