Increased Opportunities for Education Students to Substitute

Eligible bachelor of education (B.Ed.) students in their final year of study will now be able to work and be paid as substitute teachers in the province.

To support the increased demand for substitute teachers across the province, eligible B.Ed. students will receive a temporary teacher’s licence and can teach and be paid as substitutes in the classroom if they choose. Student teachers will only get paid for the days they are hired to substitute.

“We want our soon-to-be teachers to feel excited about starting their careers and staying here in Nova Scotia,” said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “Allowing student teachers the opportunity to get paid to substitute on an as-need basis during their practicum not only provides experience in a field they will soon be entering, but also addresses the current need for more substitutes.”

Student teachers will continue to be supervised by their university advisor the days they are hired to substitute and will be supported by school administration and other teachers. Choosing to substitute is voluntary and will not impact or delay completion of the bachelor of education program.

The Province worked closely with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and the five universities that offer B.Ed. programs to provide students who are set to graduate in May a conditional teacher’s certificate.

Quotes:

“We are pleased that our soon-to-be graduates have this opportunity to support Nova Scotia public schools during this exceptional time. Faculties across the province worked with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Office of Teacher Certification to ensure our students could contribute to this initiative, while maintaining our focus on quality teacher education. Our teacher education candidates continue to adapt to the pandemic; they are ready to meet this most recent challenge and are eager to accept this professional responsibility.”

– Lace Marie Brogden, Dean of Education, St. Francis Xavier University

Quick Facts:

• there are 282 bachelor of education students who will be offered a conditional teacher’s certificate
• there are 2,002 active substitutes in Nova Scotia
• practicums provide student teachers with the opportunity to develop their professional knowledge of teaching in a school setting and under the supervision of a teacher and supported by a university advisor
• the five Nova Scotia universities that offer bachelor of education programs are Cape Breton University, St. Francis Xavier University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Acadia University and Université Sainte-Anne; four of these universities have students graduating with a bachelor of education degree in May