Demand across Eastern Ontario leads to hiring unqualified teachers

As families prepare for a return to the classroom, school boards across Eastern Ontario are leaning on some people without teaching certifications to ensure classrooms run smoothly, even when full-time teachers need to be away.

According to the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE), schools across Ontario are experiencing a staffing crunch. As teachers retire, there are fewer new teachers ready to replace them. These shortages are more apparent in rural communities and for specific subjects like French or technology.

This shortage has helped fuel a reliance on unqualified occasional teachers, or supply teachers, across the province. An unqualified occasional teacher earns less than a qualified occasional teacher. While those without teaching certifications have long been use