Ontario Government Plans $55.8 Million Expansion of Teacher Training at Universities

The Ontario government will provide $55.8 million to increase teacher training program seats at 13 publicly funded universities, with the aim of training up to 2,600 new teachers by 2027. The Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security announced on June 20, 2025, that this funding will be distributed before the 2025-2026 school year.

The initiative focuses on addressing teacher shortages in northern, rural, Indigenous, and francophone communities. According to the ministry, priority for the funds will go to accelerated teaching programs, French-language education, technological education, and programs offered in underserved and remote regions.

The ministry reports that 12,111 full-time students are enrolled in teacher education programs at Ontario universities for the 2024-2025 academic year. Each year, about 4,500 teacher candidates enter the workforce through the government’s Initial Teacher Education program, which receives $60 million in annual funding.

Since 2018, Ontario has created approximately 961 additional teacher education spaces for both French and English language instruction, in addition to the 9,000 seats that receive annual funding, according to ministry data. The government’s planned core education funding for 2025-2026 is $30.3 billion.

Rebecca Luce-Kapler, dean of the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University, said, “We welcome this funding as a meaningful step to bring additional qualified teachers into Ontario schools. This investment will expand access to areas of need, including Queen’s flexible pathways in Technological Education, French as a Second Language, and Indigenous Education – ensuring all students benefit from passionate, well-prepared educators.”

Steve Orsini, president and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, stated, “We welcome this investment which will help address the growing need for qualified teachers across Ontario. Expanding access to teacher education programs – particularly in high-need areas like French-language instruction, technological education, and northern, rural and Indigenous communities – will give more students access to the high-quality learning experiences they need to succeed, while also ensuring universities can continue to train the next generation of educators who will inspire learners and shape Ontario’s future.”

Dany Dumont, president of the Association des directions et directions adjointes des écoles franco-ontariennes, described the investment as “a meaningful and timely step toward addressing the teacher shortage in our French-language schools. As president of ADFO, I applaud the government’s commitment to increasing the number of qualified teachers, especially in northern, rural, and francophone communities. Ensuring that every student has access to a caring and skilled educator is essential to their success, and this initiative brings us closer to that goal.”

James McDade, president of the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario, said, “We are pleased to see the government’s commitment of over $55 million to train more teachers at the university level. This investment represents a significant step in enhancing the quality of education for our students and is essential in addressing the ongoing shortage of teachers in the classroom.”