Paid internship for future teachers

Catherine Montambeault

Wednesday, 21 march, 2018 01:00

UPDATE
Wednesday, 21 march, 2018 01:00

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Graduates in education of the University of Montreal, will be able this fall to be paid as substitutes during their final stage, which will help address the teacher shortage that hits the Quebec.

The pilot project will be launched next year will allow some fourth-year students in the bachelor of education in preschool and primary school of the University of Montreal (UdeM) to obtain contract contingency to the Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM). They will receive the wages stipulated in the collective agreement of the CSDM.

“There is a crying need for qualified teachers in the school environment, particularly in Montreal,” recalls Pascale Lefrançois, vice-dean, undergraduate studies at the Faculty of education sciences of the université de montréal.

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Pascale Lefrançois
Vice-dean of the université de montréal

“So, how do I add people a little more qualified than mr. and mrs. All-the-world to go teach in the classes ? This is where we thought of our students of last year “, she explains.

During the summer and in the evening

The schedule of students who will participate in the project will be set up so that they can follow their courses in the summer, the evening and the end of the week and work day for the entire school year.

The future teachers have been asking for several years to be paid during the last stage of their training as they are then called to assume the task of a teacher to 100 %.

“It’s going to create some stability for the kids as well. If there is a position which can be released the following year, it is likely that the student who has already done some substitute teaching at the school to be able to integrate easily, ” points out Catherine Harel Bourdon, president of the CSDM.

Not all students

However, not all students who will be eligible for the project, says Pascale Lefrançois. They will have to meet certain conditions of excellence, such as those having a good academic record and have completed their first three courses without difficulty.

“We are very aware that these are still students, not graduates, so we want to ensure that it is people who are able to take charge of a class, so as not to interfere with the real students that they will teach,” says the vice-dean.

Up to 60 students can take part in the pilot project. Approximately 130 graduates in preschool education and primary school emerge each year from the University of montreal.

“If it works well, maybe we will offer the same thing in other programs — such as teaching at the secondary level or in special education — in the future,” says Ms. Lefrancois.