2023-07-05

Recruitment in university education programs: a solution to increase the pool of new FSL teachers?

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, July 7, 2023 – The Canadian Association of Immersion Professionals (ACPI) is pleased to launch a strategic review examining the challenges related to the recruitment of students to university education programs in French as a second language (FSL) instruction in Canada.

At a time when the entire country is grappling with a shortage of qualified French Immersion (FI) teachers, the main objective of this survey is to identify the issues related to the recruitment of students to university education programs with a view to increasing the pool of new FSL teachers. Specifically, this strategic review has three main objectives:

  1. Gain a better understanding of the current situation and contribution of universities to teacher training for FSL and FI programs.
  2. Take stock of the barriers faced by universities in their efforts to increase the number of candidates admitted to a qualifying program for teaching FSL to meet current and future demand for qualified teachers.
  3. Make strategic recommendations for consideration by universities, government ministries and departments, and schools, with a view to boosting applications, enrolment, and the number of graduates from qualifying FSL and FI teaching programs.

The survey offers revealing insights into the barriers faced by faculties of education in their efforts to recruit and retain students, while identifying their current and future contribution to easing the shortage.

Six key findings emerged from this analysis:

  1. Education faculties are struggling to meet the demand for qualified teachers for French immersion programs.
  2. There is no Canada-wide trend in enrolment rates in education and French as a second language teacher training programs.
  3. Education faculties suffer from a lack of financial and human resources.
  4. Program administrative requirements are barriers to enrolment and can lead to dropout.
  5. There are few mitigating measures in place.
  6. Prospective teachers are dropping out before graduation or transitioning out of the profession.

From these six findings, 20 factors were identified as barriers to student recruitment in education programs leading to a career in French immersion. The complexity and multi-faceted nature of university education programs leading to a career in teaching FSL and French immersion is clearly demonstrated by all these barriers. In this strategic review, APCI proposes solutions to increase access to teaching career programs in faculties of education in Canada.

ACPI encourages universities, the federal government, provincial and territorial governments, and other education stakeholders to carefully consider the recommendations presented in this strategic review. Each of us has a significant role to play in addressing the issues identified, and it is important to use a collaborative approach to implement solutions that can reduce the impact of the shortage of qualified FSL teachers across the country. By working together, we can overcome current challenges and ensure a bright future for FSL instruction in Canada.

This strategic review, carried out with the collaboration of some thirty universities and numerous provincial and territorial ministries and departments of education, looks at the attractiveness of university teacher training and the challenges of student recruitment. It also proposes concrete solutions for expanding the pipeline of new French immersion teachers in each province and territory. The strategic review was conducted by Marie-France Gaumont on behalf of ACPI, with financial support from the Official Languages Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

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ABOUT ACPI

The Association canadienne des professionnels de l’immersion (ACPI) or Canadian Association of Immersion Professionals is a professional organization committed to helping promote and develop a bilingual Canada by bringing together immersion educators and partners from all over the country. As the cornerstone of French immersion in Canada, ACPI informs and enhances immersion pedagogy in Canada. By offering professional development, training, research, and networking, it provides educators with robust support and numerous professional learning opportunities as well as pedagogical dialogue in French.

FOR INFORMATION:
Corinne Labelle | Marketing and Membership Coordinator
Phone: 819-664-9827 | Email: clabelle@acpi.ca