On November 25, the Minister of Finance announced $ 2.9 billion in scholarships to attract workers in six fields, including education and teaching. This scholarship would aim to “train, re-qualify and attract workers”. This scholarship program will be offered to full-time students, after each completed session.
Although this initiative is very welcome, it seems to me incomplete and discriminatory: a significant portion of future teachers is forgotten – part-time students. In fact, there are hundreds of us living a similar situation. In order to fill the glaring shortage of personnel in our field (teaching), we have chosen to occupy a full-time contract in a school as non-legally qualified teachers by continuing our part-time training. We are trying to address this teacher shortage as best we can while studying for our certification. However, we find ourselves at a great disadvantage in this situation compared to full-time students.
Adapt the solution
Obviously, I understand that a scholarship of the same amount cannot be awarded to part-time students. However, it seems to me unfair and inequitable to deprive part-time students of a scholarship suited to their educational path, in proportion to the courses taken, for example. This solution seems most logical, and I am very surprised to see the lack of support from the government.
The announced measure could have a demotivating effect for students who work relentlessly between difficult studies and a grueling job and with poor wages. It is inevitable that students who already hold full-time positions will abandon them in order to return to school full-time if the conditions of this scholarship do not change. Results ? The shortage will only be more acute. Let us not forget the real victims in this situation: our students, our children. It seems foolish to me not to offer an increase in scholarships for any student following one of the designated study paths.
I call on education professionals, education students and the general public to become aware of this issue and to mobilize. Governmental student assistance should never discriminate against students because of their background, let alone when these students help alleviate the shortage that has plagued the education sector for many years.
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