Ontario may see non-tech teachers in new mandatory tech ed classes

Ontario is proposing to allow teachers without technological credentials to teach certain tech courses for the next school year, which teachers and principals suggest indicates the province is ill-prepared for the new mandatory nature of those classes.

Ontario is proposing to allow teachers without technological credentials to teach certain tech courses for the next school year, which teachers and principals suggest indicates the province is ill-prepared for the new mandatory nature of those classes.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced last year that starting in September 2024, high school students will have to take a course on technology and the skilled trades in Grade 9 or 10 in order to graduate.

But the government is now "exploring options" to let principals assign teachers with general education qualifications — who may not have tech qualifications — to teach those courses for the next year.

There is already a shortage of teachers, let alone a shortage of tech-specific teachers, even before adding in new mandatory requirements for students to take those courses, said Ontario Principals Council president Ralph Nigro.

"The introduction of the courses is something that we are generally very supportive of, but I think there needed to be some other steps taken before they were rolled out, like creating additional spots in teacher education programs for tech teachers," Nigro said in an interview.

"It appears that that didn't happen and when you factor in ... teacher shortages for a number of years, we're very worried about having enough people in place."

A spokesperson for Lecce said the government has taken action to recruit and retain qualified educators across Ontario.