More than 500 Indigenous classes won’t have a teacher this week: here’s what we should do – Toronto Star

September 6, 2023

Amid national teacher shortages, Indigenous communities are struggling enormously to recruit and retain teachers.

Students start school this week in Eabametoong First Nation, a community 360 km northeast of Thunder Bay, where seven teaching positions remain unfilled; this includes two all-important kindergarten teachers for students who are starting school for the very first time.

This is the current reality for many Indigenous students across the country; a lack of teachers means combining grade levels, adding yet more strain on existing teaching staff and for students, a familiar face that did not return to school this year.

“There is a big gap between the generation [of teachers] that is about to retire in First Nations communities and there is not a next group of teachers coming to fill the positions. We have about six teachers approaching retirement, and we have no one in the pipeline,” said Thomas Stanley, principal at John C. Yesno Education Centre in Eabametoong First Nation.

Amid national teacher shortages, Indigenous communities are struggling enormously to recruit and retain teachers. As of this week, Apply to Education has over 400 postings for teachers, administrators and education support staff for First Nations alone and over 100 postings seeking educators in the Territories.

Read More: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/more-than-500-indigenous-classes-won-t-have-a-teacher-this-week-here-s-what/article_105b5699-39c9-5a9a-85d7-77d0593e1ebe.html