Manitoba funds program to address shortage of French immersion teachers

The demand for French immersion education is showing no signs of slowing down in Manitoba, as the province announced new funding to educate more French immersion teachers to address a shortage.

The Manitoba government is providing $350,000 to help permanently expand the French education programs at Université de Saint-Boniface (USB) in Winnipeg

The proposed expansion would allow the school to increase capacity of its Bachelor of Education degree by about 60 to 70 students a year.

“I know that the need for Français and French Immersion teachers is greater than ever before,” said Rochelle Squires, the minister responsible for francophone affairs.

A recent survey done by Manitoba’s school division with USB found there is an immediate need for about 150 French teachers each year in Manitoba.

Jon Reyes, Manitoba’s minister of advanced education, skills and immigration, says the money will ensure planning stability for USB – Western Canada’s only Fresh-speaking university.

“The demand for French immersion instruction has increased over the past decade, driving the demand for teachers in Français and French Immersion programs,” said Reyes.

The expansion of the education program is expected to fill the shortage of skilled French teachers in Manitoba.

The university’s Bachelor of Education program is the only of its kind in the province that prepares teachers specifically for public school French and French immersion programs.

Dr. Sophie Bouffard, the university’s president, says temporary federal funding has been supporting the program since 2017, which increased intake numbers from around 37 students to 62 students a year.

“We receive more interest and candidates for the program than we are able to accept at the moment,” said Bouffard.

She says the current federal funding is coming to an end, but the latest provincial commitment will ensure the program’s future.

“There’s great potential for growth for the program, and for our graduates there is employment at the end, which is a win-win and great for all parties involved,” said Bouffard.

Adrien Sala, the NDP Critic for Francophone Affairs, says the current shortage of French immersion teachers was made worse by the Progressive Conservative government when they cut funding to USB after taking office.

In a statement, Sala says this new funding falls short.

“This announcement just barely covers the $324,000 in operating funding they cut between 2016 and 2019, which forced the university to cut two teaching positions and four courses. And it will not make up for the $8 million in budget cuts this government handed out to post-secondary institutions this fiscal year.”