Government Heeds College Advice on Teacher Qualifying Test
April 23 2002
April 23, 2002 (Toronto) The Ontario College of Teachers is pleased
with the governments decision not to count the results of the qualifying test
for new teachers this year.
The College held a news conference on March 19 with the Ontario Association
of Deans of Education and the OISE/UT student teacher union to request publicly
that this years test be used only for validation purposes and to highlight
implementation problems.
The College also expressed grave concerns at the time that the test would
apply to teachers who are currently teaching in Ontario classrooms with an
interim teaching licence. The government has since lifted the requirement for
teachers certified before March 15 this year.
"Were pleased that the government has listened to our advice," said
Ontario College of Teachers Registrar Joe Atkinson. "The College recommended
that Ontario should have a test for entry to the profession. However, we feel
very strongly that the implementation was rushed, leading to inequities and
uncertainty at a time when the province is coping with a severe teacher shortage.
"Todays decision will allow for a more rigorous validation of the test
by its developers. The College was concerned that the passing scores had yet
to be determined, which could have led to difficulties and inequities in interpreting
the results. We look forward to meeting with the Minister to discuss implementation
of this test next year and a number of other issues.
Students will know in the future how to prepare for the test and what is expected
of them. The government will learn what it needs to know from the test that
is, that new teachers in Ontario are competent, that they know the curriculum
and that they are well prepared for Ontario classrooms."
The College recommended an entry to the profession test for the profession
as part of its advice to the government on teacher testing in April 2000. A
number of professions in Ontario, including lawyers and doctors and chartered
accountants, have a similar requirement.
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For more information:
Denys Gigure
Media Relations Officer
416-961-8800, ext. 221
1-888-534-2222, ext. 221
