Ford’s cuts to education another blow to Francophone education students
Francophone teacher’s college program cut
QUEEN’S PARK – During question period Tuesday, NDP MPPs Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk-James Bay) and Jamie West (Sudbury) stood up for the École des sciences de l’éducation high school program at Laurentian University — which is the latest victim of both Ford’s attack on education, and on Francophone services.
Last week, students planning to attend Laurentian’s Faculty of Education learned that the school would no longer be offering their intermediate-high school cycle – one of just two French-language teacher’s degree programs in the province. This was devastating news for students who had planned their post-secondary education around becoming high school teachers.
“What will you tell students who dream of teaching high school in French, but are now unable to do so?” West asked the Minister of Colleges and Universities.
“Let’s remember that in November 2018, the Ford government used bilingual postsecondary education as an excuse to cut the funding for the French-language University,” Bourgouin added. “Francophone school boards in Ontario are packed with students, but lack qualified teachers and personnel. How does the government intend to solve the problem of the shortage of francophone teachers when demand continues to grow?”