Thousands of unqualified teachers

The presence of legally unqualified teachers in Quebec schools is often underestimated, according to unpublished data obtained. Newspaper. They are actually seven times more than the official figures.

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Over the years, the portrait of the number of illegally qualified teachers in the school network has been based on the number of “commitment tolerances” provided by the Ministry of Education to the school education network.

It is a special recognition given to a school service center that allows it to award a contract to a legally incompetent teacher in the event of a shortage. More than 4,300 teachers have been hired under the Pledge of Allegiance, according to the latest figures.

However, of this number, we should include nearly 26,000 teachers who are not legally accredited to teach because they are not required for their employment status: they can change a teacher for a fixed period of time. From a few days to two months, for example.

Genevieve Chirois and Valerie Hornois, from the University of TELUQ, made the discovery by analyzing Ministry of Education statistics on the matter. “That’s a lot of people,” M says^Me Chirois, Professor of School Administration. “These employees, who are not required to qualify under the Education Act, are the blind spot of the problem,” he adds.

The “dazzling” increase

This phenomenon is also gaining momentum as the number of teachers who do not have a teaching certificate, license or accreditation (which can be obtained on request) has doubled in three years.

“The use of these people has increased dramatically, while the number of qualified teachers in schools has not increased, despite the growing shortage,” notes Valerie Hornois, a graduate student in education.

People with disabilities do not need a diploma, while a high school diploma requires at least the endurance of engagement, M underscores^Me Hornoys.

According to Genevieve Chirois, the lack of data on this matter is also of concern. “Of the 30,000 unqualified teachers, how many have graduated? If we had the data, it would be reassuring. There, we know nothing,” she says.

A more accurate portrait will allow them to better support. “This does not mean that these people are not good. But we think they have specific training and professional integration needs. Often, they fall into the cracks. We need to take care of these teachers,” he said.^Me Cirrhosis.

“If we try to see the medal on the bright side, it is a solution to the shortage,” he adds. We have people who openly want to teach and want to do it. “

This is the case with Julie Stia, who occasionally appeals to the experience with young people to gain more recognition in the educational community.

Teachers are not legally qualified in the Quebec school network

* Non-holding teachers: Tolerance of engagement as patent, permit, license, accreditation or certain employment positions do not require legal qualification
(E.g .: occasional replacement, hourly teacher and teacher by lesson).

** Legal teaching refers to a variety of non-accredited topics (e.g. from a country where qualification is not recognized in Quebec).

^{Source: Based on data provided by the Ministry of Education, the data were processed and analyzed by Valerie Hornois and Genevieve Chirois, University Tolkien.}

Wants to become an alternative teacher

Julie Stia has no teaching degree. However, he has been working in the school network for five years and wants his experience to be recognized so that he can continue to do what he is interested in: teaching.

After graduating from concert, Julie Stia founded her own music school about fifteen years ago. Growing up in a family of teachers, he decided to try his luck at the school system five years ago.

M^Me In addition to teaching music and drama to newcomers, Stia has been a supply teacher on many levels. Last year, in a four-year-old kindergarten class, he took charge because French was not the mother tongue for all children.

“It went well,” he says, especially thanks to the supervision provided by an educational advisor.

This year, Ms.^Me Stia was invited two days before the start of the school year to take charge of a new kindergarten board, while two weeks later the position was filled by the teaching graduate. “It was a little disappointing. I really wanted to be in preschool, but because I didn’t qualify legally, it was impossible,” she says.

“Not encouraged”

“It’s really depressing. We are not considered, we are not valued. When we want to qualify legally, it is very difficult to do,” he adds.

The short option that allows you to earn his or her teaching certificate is to complete a qualified master’s degree, which is already designed for graduate students in a related field. This part-time training can theoretically be completed in four years.

But in reality, many take longer. “It took seven years for my brother, who has a master ‘s degree in biochemistry, to finish teaching. At age 47, I do not have that energy. It’s not an option for me,” says the single mother, who has two teenage children at home.

M^Me Stia regrets that there is only one path that leads to teaching certification. “Now there is a shortage. We need to find another way to provide quick access to the profession. Qualification does not mean a master’s degree.”

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