Elementary Teachers in pressure list for BC?
Jul 29th 2008 | 3:53 am
#1
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1
Elementary Teachers in pressure list for BC?
Hello
I think I might be another victim of the Daily Mail article proposing a teaching shortage in Canada!
But under the pressure list for British Colombia I have noticed that it lists 'Elementary School And Kindergarten Teachers'
Is this right?
I am so confused now as I've just read so much about how it is almost impossible to get a teaching job in Canada coming from the UK.
Can anyone enlighten me?
Thanks
I think I might be another victim of the Daily Mail article proposing a teaching shortage in Canada!
But under the pressure list for British Colombia I have noticed that it lists 'Elementary School And Kindergarten Teachers' Is this right?
I am so confused now as I've just read so much about how it is almost impossible to get a teaching job in Canada coming from the UK.
Can anyone enlighten me?
Thanks
Jul 29th 2008 | 5:02 am
#2
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,935
From: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Re: Elementary Teachers in pressure list for BC?
Hello, bookini, and welcome the BE forum.
It's a bit of a Catch 22 situation. Yes, elementary school teachers are on the list of Occupations under Pressure in BC. But teaching is a union-controlled profession in BC (and most other Canadian provinces). The website of the BC College of Teachers, which certifies teachers in that province, states:
Another observation I would make is that I don't think BC is short of teachers in the major cities. I think it's the remote communities that are short of teachers. I'm not 100% sure of that, but that's my impression.
x
It's a bit of a Catch 22 situation. Yes, elementary school teachers are on the list of Occupations under Pressure in BC. But teaching is a union-controlled profession in BC (and most other Canadian provinces). The website of the BC College of Teachers, which certifies teachers in that province, states:
Immigration Documentation
If you were not born in Canada, we require a verified copy of your certificate of Canadian citizenship photo ID card, Canadian passport (with photo), permanent resident photo ID card (or landed immigrant status), or a valid work permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
It is possible for an evaluation to be completed without this documentation; however, applicants who are otherwise eligible for a certificate but have not provided proof of appropriate immigration status will not be issued a teaching certificate.
So, you potentially could obtain teaching certification if you first got into Canada by some other means, e.g., by having a spouse who got a temporary work permit and whose skill level made you eligible for a spousal open work permit.If you were not born in Canada, we require a verified copy of your certificate of Canadian citizenship photo ID card, Canadian passport (with photo), permanent resident photo ID card (or landed immigrant status), or a valid work permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
It is possible for an evaluation to be completed without this documentation; however, applicants who are otherwise eligible for a certificate but have not provided proof of appropriate immigration status will not be issued a teaching certificate.
Another observation I would make is that I don't think BC is short of teachers in the major cities. I think it's the remote communities that are short of teachers. I'm not 100% sure of that, but that's my impression.
x
Jul 29th 2008 | 7:51 am
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 97
From: North Vancouver
Re: Elementary Teachers in pressure list for BC?
I can shed some light here as Mrs Drwoodsy is a teacher. It took over a year to get her UK qualifications assessed and a temporary certificate (in principle.) This was all done before we had TWP's. Now she has an open spousal TWP and would need a medical to teach (excpet we had PR medicals a few weeks ago.)
The reality her in Vancouver seems to be that you have little to no chance of getting sub teaching unless you have PR
The reality her in Vancouver seems to be that you have little to no chance of getting sub teaching unless you have PR
Jul 29th 2008 | 10:24 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 105
From: British Columbia
Re: Elementary Teachers in pressure list for BC?
As a current elementary school teacher in BC, I have to say that elementary school and kindergarten teachers shouldn't really be on any 'occupations under pressure' list for the province.
My guess as to why it's on the list is that it's a leftover from previous years. In the late 1990's, there was much talk about a looming teaching shortage because people realized the majority of teachers would be nearing retirement in the next decade. There were newspaper and magazine articles on the subject and it became a topic of concern for many. Universities expanded their existing teacher education programs and smaller universities created new ones. However, the expected shortage never appeared because of several reasons, most notably a decreasing student population in the province. All but a small number of BC school districts are shrinking. So even though the number of retiring teachers is increasing, there are less children entering the school system. As a result, these teachers are, basically, taking their jobs with them as they retire.
This myth of a teacher shortage still exists out there even today. I just recently heard a university professor tell her education students this. However, they're only looking at one-half of the equation, the retiring teachers, without seeing the full picture, the declining student population. I think that this is what is happening with the 'occupations under pressure' list.
That said, it isn't impossible to get an elementary school teaching position in BC. It will just take some patience, hard work and luck. Expect to put in some time as a TOC before contracts come your way.
Even though, in general, there isn't a shortage of elementary school teachers here, there are some positions that are challenging for administrators to fill. They are:
1. French immersion. If you are fluent in French, you could walk into a position in any school district in the province right now. There is such a high demand for French immersion teachers that school districts are desperate to run as many classes as possible. One of the school districts last year was even offering a signing bonus for French immersion teachers, something absolutely unheard of for regular teachers.
2. First Nations schools. These schools are often in rural areas and they usually provide accomodation as well.
3. Rural school districts. These schools don't really have a problem of finding teachers, but rather retaining them. Often teachers come to work for 1 or 2 years and then move elsewhere.
4. Religious-based independent schools. If this interests you, you'll have many options.
My guess as to why it's on the list is that it's a leftover from previous years. In the late 1990's, there was much talk about a looming teaching shortage because people realized the majority of teachers would be nearing retirement in the next decade. There were newspaper and magazine articles on the subject and it became a topic of concern for many. Universities expanded their existing teacher education programs and smaller universities created new ones. However, the expected shortage never appeared because of several reasons, most notably a decreasing student population in the province. All but a small number of BC school districts are shrinking. So even though the number of retiring teachers is increasing, there are less children entering the school system. As a result, these teachers are, basically, taking their jobs with them as they retire.
This myth of a teacher shortage still exists out there even today. I just recently heard a university professor tell her education students this. However, they're only looking at one-half of the equation, the retiring teachers, without seeing the full picture, the declining student population. I think that this is what is happening with the 'occupations under pressure' list.
That said, it isn't impossible to get an elementary school teaching position in BC. It will just take some patience, hard work and luck. Expect to put in some time as a TOC before contracts come your way.
Even though, in general, there isn't a shortage of elementary school teachers here, there are some positions that are challenging for administrators to fill. They are:
1. French immersion. If you are fluent in French, you could walk into a position in any school district in the province right now. There is such a high demand for French immersion teachers that school districts are desperate to run as many classes as possible. One of the school districts last year was even offering a signing bonus for French immersion teachers, something absolutely unheard of for regular teachers.
2. First Nations schools. These schools are often in rural areas and they usually provide accomodation as well.
3. Rural school districts. These schools don't really have a problem of finding teachers, but rather retaining them. Often teachers come to work for 1 or 2 years and then move elsewhere.
4. Religious-based independent schools. If this interests you, you'll have many options.
