Teacher spots in demand after certification changes

Universities are being flooded with applications from aspiring teachers now that it’s easier to become certified in Manitoba.

Following years of struggle to fill available seats, faculties of education are scaling up after-degree programs this fall to meet newfound demand.

The University of Manitoba is adding 105 undergraduate seats in September, with a specific focus on graduating more kindergarten-to-Grade 8 teachers.

“We need to get more fully trained teachers out in the field to address the provincial needs. We can’t have classrooms without teachers,” education dean Jan Stewart said.

Far too many students, primarily in rural, northern and French-language classrooms, are being taught by adults with limited teaching permits, Stewart said.

The U of M academic supported the education department’s controversial decision to loosen criteria for certification — which dictates university admissions and programming — during the 2024-25 school year.

Manitoba no longer requires specialization in a list of approved subject areas known as major or minor “teachables.”

The province has also stopped mandating K-8 teachers complete extra training in mathematics, science, one of Canada’s official languages, and either history or geography.

Critics have expressed concerns the regulatory changes will lead to more teachers being ill-equipped to deliver math and other core subjects.

Proponents argue education faculties will ensure graduates still know how-to teach curricula of all sorts and these updates were necessary to address labour shortages.

The regulatory changes have invited a broader range of applicants to the University of Winnipeg, said Marc Kuly, director of undergraduate teacher education.

Kuly said the faculty has issued acceptance letters to candidates with degrees ranging from mechanical engineering to environmental studies.

U of W is planning to double its after-degree intake this fall by enrolling 70 extra students.

Brandon University and Canadian Mennonite University have also reported high demand for their respective after-degree education programs.

BU applications are up 41 per cent. CMU received more than three times the applications than available spots in its inaugural 34-seat cohort.

St. Boniface University indicated it’s been recording a minor increase in applications from aspiring French and French immersion teachers in recent years.

In addition to certification changes, U of M’s education dean attributes growing interest in the faculty to the rollout of a popular new elective, Introduction to Education: What Does It Mean to Teach?

“We decided to tap into our current student body — arts, sciences, engineering,” Stewart said, noting her faculty launched the course in 2024 and has been ramping up marketing across the Fort Garry campus.

The addition of more training seats overall is welcome news, but these changes alone won’t solve the labour shortage, said Lillian Klausen, president of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society.

“It’s great to recruit more people into the profession, but we know what happens in the first five years… The rose-coloured glasses come off,” Klausen said.

Four in 10 teachers who took part in a recent membership survey indicated they plan to leave the profession before retirement. The online poll drew responses from 3,470 teachers between January 22 and February 17.

Teachers repeatedly expressed concerns about increasing workloads and burnout brought on by a lack of resources, Klausen said.

Manitoba has topped up overall funding to K-12 public schools by 3.5 per cent for next year.

Neither U of M nor U of W have requested specific funding to expand teacher training.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca