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By Teena Monteleone

Temporary Teaching Permits

Hundreds of uncertified teachers being used to fill shortages in Saskatchewan

Jun 10, 2024 | 10:51 AM

It’s well known that schools across the province and nation are struggling to fill teacher vacancies. What may be less known is the number of uncertified teachers working in Saskatchewan classrooms.

According to the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board (SPTRB), which is responsible for all certification, 425 Temporary Teaching Permits (TTPs) were issued in the 2023/24 school year.

“In order for a person to be a TTP holder, you need to be a high school grad, of at least four years prior, and you need to have some post-secondary education or a specialized skill,” said Markus Rubrecht, registrar and chief operating officer of the SPTRB.

School divisions can only apply for temporary teaching permits if they advertised for a position and received no applications from certified teachers.

“I would say the majority of TTP spots are for substitution and not for a temporary contract, but those do happen,” Rubrecht said noting those spots are more common in remote or rural locations.

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More than 170 of the TTPs that were issued went to university students in Saskatchewan teacher education programs who had successfully completed their teaching practicum but hadn’t yet received their certification. In rural and remote areas, its more likely the instructors are community members with specialized skills.

“Someone may be gifted in teaching shop but hasn’t gone through a teacher education program. A school division may lean on that person to come and teach shop in their high school,” Rubrecht said.

The need for the temporary teaching permits magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a scramble to find people to cover classrooms, but the need has not subsided.

According to the SPTRB annual report, 182 TTPs were issued in 2019-20. During the height of the pandemic, the number reached 421. Last year, 432 were approved.

A screenshot of the STPRB annual report that shows the number of temporary teaching permits issued year over year. (SPTRB.ca)

Rubrecht said in school divisions within larger centres like Saskatoon and Regina, the temporary teacher permits aren’t utilized as much. Within the Prince Albert Catholic School Division, as an example, the director of education, Lorel Trumier said there are very few applied for and when they are it’s more of a ‘stop gap measure’ while teaching graduates wait for their official certifications.

The president of the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation said the fact there have been 425 temporary teaching permits issued this year is part of why they’ve been raising alarm bells about the state of publicly funded education in the province.

In an emailed statement to paNOW, Samantha Becotte said, “This number has increased every year since 2020. Teacher retention is a critical issue, and government needs to recognize that this issue has been caused by a decade of underfunding and cuts to supports that have placed an untenable burden on teachers all across the province. We need our government to listen to teachers and work with us to solve these issues. Students and teachers deserve better.”

When asked if parents should be concerned about someone who isn’t technically a teacher instructing students, Rubrecht said, “There are human resource departments in every school division that are keeping a close eye on everyone who is working in their school and making sure they’ve got the best people that they can. Certainly, if they were to find any issue with a TTP holder they would be making adjustments to that. The goal and expectation is that every school division is doing its utmost to get certified teachers and only in circumstances where there is no one who has applied are they able to look at this option. So, I think there’s a lot of due diligence done by the school divisions and the SPTRB to make sure we have the most qualified people in front of kids.”

Rubrecht said it’s up to each school division on whether they notify parents about the use of uncertified educators.

While the teacher shortage continues nationwide, rural and remote school divisions in Saskatchewan are doing what they can to entice certified educators to their communities. Just last month, the Northern Lights School Division announced an incentive to provide $10,000 and all-inclusive rental agreements to new teachers who accept positions in places like La Loche, Stony Rapids or Uranium City.

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @princealbertNOW