Universities are rejecting Education Minister Bernard Drainville’s request for a delay so that future teachers who fail the French test are not held back in their training.
• Also read: Teacher Shortage: A reprieve for prospective teachers with weak French requested by Drainville
• Also read: The torture of the French exam for prospective teachers
Currently, students are required to pass the Certification Exam in Written French for Teaching (TECFÉE) before their third internship, which usually takes place at the beginning of the third year of their four-year undergraduate degree.
Postponing the requirement to pass this exam at the end of the course, as requested by Minister Drainville, “is not a solution,” affirms Jean Bélanger, president of the association that brings together the deans of Québec’s education faculties.
“It would rather create new problems,” he says.
Between 5% and 18% of students, depending on the university, have to postpone their third internship because they failed the TECFEE, a “relatively small” number, according to the dean of UQAM.
During the pandemic, students were exceptionally able to complete their third internship without passing the exam. However, 20% of them still have not achieved the passing grade, which prevents them from obtaining their teaching diploma. After completing the training, it will be even more difficult for them to pass this French test, says Mr. Bélanger.
“We’re not doing them any favors, that’s clear. For us, the key is really the upstream support to get students to take the exam during their studies,” he says.
The universities must “contribute to solutions” in order to help the school environment to overcome the shortage of teachers, but that is not the right way, adds the dean.
“Regrettable”
The Ministry of Education replies that the deans’ “lack of openness and flexibility” in this regard is “regrettable”.
The “extraordinary measure” requested by Minister Drainville represents “a reasonable compromise” while waiting to find other solutions to address the shortage in the school network, affirms his spokeswoman Florence Plourde.
“We would have liked ADEREQ to be part of the solution to help the school sector facing a labor shortage. It’s a matter of common sense,” she says.
“Excellent knowledge of French is essential for teachers and we do not question that. But giving student teachers four years to pass the TECFÉE still seems to us a fair, just and reasonable solution. For the rest, we are currently reviewing our options,” adds Ms Plourde.
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