College Reviews Registration Practices
August 20 2007
August 20, 2007 (Toronto) - Ontario’s largest regulatory body has launched a review to ensure that its licensing process is transparent, objective, impartial and fair to internationally educated applicants and others.
The Ontario College of Teachers will examine existing practices, identify effective and promising procedures and reflect the voices of those most affected by its decisions - recently licensed teachers and unsuccessful applicants.
Since 1999, the College has granted Ontario licences to more than 16,800 teachers from more than 100 countries outside Canada.
“We hope that by working with internationally educated teachers and education stakeholders we can improve our process while continuing to uphold Ontario’s high standards for teacher certification,” says College Registrar Brian McGowan.
“We’ve made tremendous strides in the last few years to welcome internationally educated teachers, but we’re always keen to learn how we can be better.”
To teach in a publicly funded school or school system in Ontario, teachers must first become members of the Ontario College of Teachers. The College sets the academic, professional and language proficiency requirements for an Ontario teaching licence.
Over the next few months, the College will speak with teachers, community groups and sector representatives to identify possible improvements in its practices and to address statutory and regulatory obligations.
Among a range of issues, the College will look at the amount and clarity of information it provides to applicants, the length of time it takes to become certified, how qualifications are assessed, fees, reasons for denying certification, the appeal process, training and records access.
“The College must ensure that it makes clear what the requirements are for full documentation of credentials. The College must also assist applicants by ensuring they know where to get the documents they require. Finally, applicants must know how the College can assist them in obtaining documents by inquiring on their behalf with academic and licensing bodies of other countries”, says Don Cattani, Chair of the College’s Council. “Ontario students deserve the best teachers available and it’s our job to ensure that our registration process welcomes good teachers from within Ontario, across Canada and around the world.”
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The Ontario College of Teachers licenses, governs and regulates the profession of teaching in the public interest. It sets standards of practice and ethical standards, conducts disciplinary hearings and accredits teacher education programs affecting more than 210,000 members in publicly funded schools and institutions across Ontario. The College is the largest self-regulatory body in Canada.
For more information:
Brian Jamieson
416-961-8800, ext. 655
Toll-free 1-888-534-2222, ext. 655
