Ontario announces expansion of Wilfrid Laurier University’s Initial Teacher Education program in Brantford

Ontario announced it is providing students with more opportunities to become teachers at the Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus.

The province says it is increasing the available positions in Laurier’s Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program by 60 students a year and another 60 in 2023-2024, for a total of 120.

The program will have a special focus on French as a Second Language and STEM-related subjects.

“COVID-19 has presented schools with significant challenges and these pressures continue to have an impact on the recruitment and retention of teachers,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, in a statement. “By expanding Wilfrid Laurier’s ITE program, we’re providing more postsecondary options in the Brantford area for prospective teachers and building up our future supply of educators.”

The province says increasing the ITE program spaces at Wilfrid Laurier University will address higher teacher absences and staffing pressures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To become a teacher in Ontario, learners have to complete an undergraduate degree, or meet other acceptable requirements and complete an initial teacher education program offered by an accredited faculty of education.

“This funding will provide more opportunities for students to study locally here in Brantford through Laurier’s world-class Bachelor of Education program and help relieve some of the pressures on Ontario’s education system,” said MPP for Brantford-Brant Will Bouma, in a statement.