New program created to get Montreal’s 2,000+ unqualified teachers certified

MONTREAL – There are currently over 2,000 legally unqualified teachers working in elementary schools in Quebec–twice as many as five years ago and that number is growing.

In an effort to make those teachers “official”, Université de Montréal has created a new program that allows teachers to continue teaching while gaining more confidence in their competencies.

“You cannot improvise being a teacher without receiving training,” said Pascale Lefrançois, director of Educational Sciences, Université de Montréal.

He says the program will help ensure parents and society in general that students are fully competent.

“But for me learning to handle the kids and have all the information. No I really need the program I read everything and I think it’s really well done and it’s going to give me the tools I need,” said substitute teacher Sandra Tasso, who says she’s already applied to be in the program.

“I have to take matters into my own hand, and I love what I’m doing now. Not that I don’t miss my career, but it’s a new career and it’s a way to have the tools, to, you know, to deal with the future. I still have like 20 years to work, I’m not going to do sub work for 20 years.”

Starting in the fall, the 60-credit program is designed to allow those with any bachelor’s degree–but in particular, those currently working as substitutes in elementary schools–to obtain the qualifications and training to be able to do the job full-time and officially.

The university currently offers a similar master’s program to teach in high schools, which was created in 2009.

According to the Minister of Quebec Education, more than half of schoolteachers in Montreal are currently not actually qualified.

“And they receive some training from school boards and private schools, they receive training but it’s not enough for them, and that what universities have to offer,” said Lefrancois.

“On the English sector the demand is less. We have pockets of teachers we are missing,” explained Roma Medwid, Executive Director, Concordia Teacher Education Council.

“For instance, math, science, and French. On the French sectors there a big, big loss of teachers and a big demand for teachers because of the population that’s growing exponentially, with Bill 101 and the population of immigrants going into the French schools.”

Although the program is open to anyone who currently holds a bachelor’s degree, the school doesn’t suggest just anyone should apply.

“You may like, love children. You may love knowledge, but you must know how it works to become a good teacher,” said Lefrançois.

“And it’s wanting to bring children forward and you’re it is a very demanding profession,” said Medwid.