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By Liam Verster

Recruitment & Retention

Investment in French teachers supporting programs across B.C. including at UBCO

Mar 3, 2023 | 11:35 AM

British Columbia is getting a boost to train, recruit and retain French teachers, including supports for local education opportunities.

The federal government and provincial government are each providing $6,793,854 to support initiatives aimed at providing more opportunities for youth to learn French.

From that $13.5-million total, $528,190 will go to University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) to allow components of the Bachelor of Education to be taught in French and language development support to students in this program. Additionally, professional development initiatives, such as the creation of a network among practicing teachers in the Interior and mentorship opportunities, will be supported through these funds.

Of the total federal investment, $2,095,000 will be dedicated to capacity building and cross-government collaborations, adding seats to French teacher training at post secondary institutions, supporting the coordination of immigration of French teachers, and improving the French teacher international certification process and teacher workforce data collection.

“The funding from the Government of Canada will build on the investments our government is making to bring more French-speaking teachers to B.C. and ensure students who want to learn French can do so,” Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care, said.

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“We are committed to making sure that students can access learning opportunities that help them thrive, and I am pleased to continue working with our federal partners to ensure those opportunities include French learning.”

From the provincial funds, $4,708,944 will be given to public school districts through operational grants to support the recruitment and retention processes, and for public universities to support French teacher education.

The remaining investment will go to specific organizations, schools and programs to support French teachers in B.C.

Make a Future – $3,940,826 to use the online provincial education job board to target French-language teaches and provide grants to school districts to boost recruitment and retention

The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Columbia-Britannique – $1,188,084 to expand teacher recruitment capacity and take part in the larger provincial workforce marketplace, and redirect teachers with sufficient language proficiency to a new Core French Certificate

UBC – $214,955 to increase enrollment in the existing French specialized options in the French-Language Teacher Education program, implement a graduate program in educational leadership, and coordinate a provincial network of school administrators

Simon Fraser University – $513,000 will be used to increase access to a network of professional development experts through workshops and resources, and implement a graduate program

Four provincial anglophone school districts – $474,109 to find solutions to challenges with meeting the demand for French immersion teachers

Canadian Parents for French B.C. – $227,500 to develop cultural and community programming in remote and rural school districts

British Columbia Language Coordination Association – $147,100 to support professional learning activities that boost language leadership across B.C.’s French Immersion and Core French school districts

The provincial and federal governments intend to support the French language in B.C. and allow children to interact with both of Canada’s official languages.

“Education in French is at the very heart of the continued presence and vitality of Francophone communities in British Columbia” said Marie-Pierre Lavoie, Board Chair of the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique.

“This investment in training, recruitment, and retention of French-speaking teachers is key to ensuring that Francophone students are able to access the same high quality of education as their Anglophone peers.”