By Matt Fetinko

Greater need than availability for French-immersion

Feb 14, 2019 | 2:21 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — School District 57 is actively recruiting French-immersion teachers in Ontario in an effort to help with the growing popularity of the program. It’s so popular that registration has needed to be capped at the kindergarten level.

French immersion within SD 57 has been budding over the last couple of years. The bulk of that growth is at the elementary level and while that is seen as a positive, it doesn’t come without its challenges.

PG District Teachers Association President, Joanne Hapke, said, “There is a greater need than there is availability. That is not just for space in the school but also the ability to get trained teachers into the schools to provide the French-immersion program.”

That’s why recruitment has been ongoing for, in particular, French-immersion staff. Efforts are currently being seen in Ottawa as a team from SD 57 is at a French-immersion teacher job fair.

The BC Teachers Federation has recently released information outlining why it can be difficult bringing teachers to the province. It lists housing affordability and starting salaries, the latter of which is among the lowest in the country.

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