Manitoba parents, advocates welcome new teacher registry

Parents and advocates say a new online registry giving them background information on teachers, alongside a new teacher complaint process, will help create safer environments in and out of Manitoba classrooms. 

Anyone licensed to teach in the province is now searchable by name through the registry, with the standing of their teaching certificate also available to the public and Anil Sedha, a Winnipeg parent of three, says he’s in support of the registry, as it’s important for students and families to know about their teachers.

“We all are accountable for our actions so teachers are no different,” said Sedha. “I don’t see this as a detriment to their future progress or the way they do their work.” 

The registry includes names of everyone who has been a teacher since 1960 and the status of their certificate. Although details of any disciplinary measures aren’t included in the database, Sedha says it’s enough to reassure families — and let students know they can speak up.

“There are transgressions that happen or things that are abnormal behaviours that happen sometimes, and they are identified to the school divisions but parents never get to know,” she said, stressing the practice is commonplace in many professions. 

“When we go to a doctor we like to look up their ratings or whether they are a good doctor or not a good doctor. Similarly, when it comes to our children, it’s even more precious for us and we just want to make sure we are satisfied that their teachers are in good standing.”

Sheila North, the University of Winnipeg’s executive director of external Indigenous relations and special initiatives, says accountability for teachers is especially important outside of urban centres. 

“We already have enough challenges on First Nations, especially with our teachers and our school system,” she said. “We don’t need that added disappointment of bad teachers and bad actors in our system.”

North saying transparency is welcome.

“I think it’s high time, especially in the rural areas and northern First Nations where we don’t always see the best of the best. Sometimes we have to make do with what we have and it’s good that we open this up to make sure that teachers are qualified.”

Although the Manitoba Teachers’ Society says the vast majority of teachers in the province are in good standing, North says the new review process — now led by an independent commissioner — is key not only to protect students, but to protect teachers and clear their names of allegations proven untrue. 

“In the end, I think a process like this will help to at least start to address some of the concerns. It might be uncomfortable, but I think it’s a necessary process,” she said, saying the changes will help address a sense of psychological safety.

“I definitely feel that it would make people more responsible for their actions before they make ill-informed decisions and that they make decisions based on a whim. I think that it will make sure that there are sober second thoughts, especially if there is some public involvement in that process,” she said. 

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is in ongoing talks with the province about the registry and complaint process, with conversations expected to continue later this month.