Ontario Invests $55.8M to Train 2,600 New Teachers by 2027
Focus on northern, rural, Indigenous, French-language, and tech education to address urgent classroom needs
Kingston, ON — The Ontario government is investing $55.8 million to expand teacher education programs across the province, a move expected to train up to 2,600 new teachers by 2027. The initiative focuses on addressing urgent staffing shortages in underserved regions including northern, rural, Indigenous, and francophone communities.
Announced in Kingston by Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn, the funding will increase teacher training seats at 13 publicly funded Ontario universities starting this fall. The government says the expansion is part of its broader strategy to build a stronger education workforce and ensure students across Ontario have access to qualified, well-prepared teachers.
“Teachers play a vital role in ensuring our children receive a strong start to their education and future careers,” said Minister Quinn. “Through this investment, we’re protecting Ontario’s future by bringing more highly qualified teachers to the communities that need them most.”
The investment prioritizes accelerated training pathways, particularly in French-language instruction and technological education. It also aligns with the government’s plan to prepare Ontario’s youth for in-demand careers, especially in areas facing chronic teacher shortages.
The move has been widely welcomed by Ontario’s education community, including deans, principals, and education council leaders.
“This investment is a meaningful and timely step toward addressing the teacher shortage in our French-language schools,” said Dany Dumont, President of the Association of Principals and Assistant Principals of Franco-Ontarian Schools (ADFO). “Ensuring that every student has access to a caring and skilled educator is essential to their success.”
Dean Rebecca Luce-Kapler of Queen’s University’s Faculty of Education noted the importance of expanding flexible learning options for future educators:
“This investment will expand access to areas of need, including Queen’s flexible pathways in Technological Education, French as a Second Language, and Indigenous Education.”
The new teacher education seats are expected to help universities address growing application demand while ensuring schools in hard-to-staff areas can fill vacancies and reduce classroom disruptions.
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