TORONTO — The Ontario government is considering shortening the length of teachers' college in order to address a worsening shortage of educators, documents obtained by The Canadian Press suggest.
A freedom-of-information request on teacher supply and demand came back with research and jurisdictional scans the Ministry of Education conducted last year on the supply issue and the length of initial teacher education programs.
Highlighted in the summary of the document on teachers' college are findings that longer programs do not make better teachers.
"There is little evidence that the amount of course work in ITE (initial teacher education) makes a difference in teachers' effectiveness when they enter the profession," the document says.
Real in-class experience, however, does appear to make a difference.
"Literature research shows that teachers who complete longer practicums feel better prepared and are more likely to stay in the profession," the document says.
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From Surplus to Shortage: How We Got Here
Ontario teachers' college programs are typically two years, divided into four semesters, but that has not always been the case.
A decade ago, Ontario had a teacher surplus, with an unemployment rate of nearly 40 per cent for teachers in their first year after becoming certified. In 2015, the then-Liberal government extended teachers' college from one to two years, and admission rates plummeted—from more than 7,600 in 2011 to 4,500 in 2021, according to the Ontario College of Teachers.
Now, early-career unemployment is at “statistically negligible levels," and the province is facing a widely acknowledged teacher shortage. Other ministry documents previously obtained said the gap between needed and available teachers is expected to widen starting in 2027.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Paul Calandra said his focus is on ensuring the best possible outcomes for students, including proper staffing levels. He has asked the ministry to report back on how to move forward.
Opinions Divided on Program Length and Next Steps
Several education groups, including the Ontario Principals' Council and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), support a return to a one-year program.
"We're finding that the cost has become a factor...So really, people are saying, 'What is the purpose of the second year?'" said ETFO president Karen Brown.
The Ontario Federation of Teachers hasn’t endorsed a specific timeline but has called for evidence-based changes. They argue the current two-year program presents a barrier for many prospective teachers.
A federation paper supported a compressed three-semester model over 12 months with 100 days of practicum and predicted the current structure would lead to teacher shortages—particularly in high-need areas like French, technological education, Indigenous teachers, and northern Ontario.
Ministry documents show contributing factors include rising student enrolment, increasing retirements (about 7,800 teachers expected to retire by 2030-31), and a lack of immediate changes to teacher education.
Across Canada and internationally, teacher training program lengths vary. Six Canadian provinces and territories, including Ontario, have four-semester programs. Meanwhile, all jurisdictions except the Northwest Territories report shortages and are testing solutions like scholarships, bursaries, student loan forgiveness, and faster credential recognition.
Ontario has allowed teacher candidates to work as supply teachers, but union leaders like OSSTF president Karen Littlewood caution against relying on this stop-gap measure.
"We’re putting a Band-Aid on a solution and asking people who...are not yet qualified to solve the problem,” she said.
The Council of Ontario Universities says it’s working to streamline training but warns against cutting program length, citing the increasing complexity of teachers' responsibilities.
“Anything that would reduce the preparation our teachers receive could affect the quality of education and future success of students,” said Steve Orsini, the council’s president and CEO.
