Issue 12
Thank you for establishing
your private account in the Members' Area of the Ontario College of
Teachers' web site and for your interest in receiving breaking news
and professional information from the College.
In
this Issue:
- Professional Learning Program To Be Cancelled
Professional Learning Program To Be Cancelled
Chair of the College
Council, Marilyn Laframboise, received official notice today from
Minister of Education Gerard Kennedy that he will take steps in 2004
to cancel the Professional Learning Program (PLP).
"The Minister's
letter today makes his intentions clear about the future of the Professional
Learning Program," said Laframboise, who also indicated she wanted
to share this news with College members immediately.
"I know that
our members will continue to pursue the professional learning they
need to support student achievement. The College is looking forward
to working with the provincial government to ensure that effective
and high quality learning opportunities are available to our members."
"The Professional
Learning Program has been a source of concern for our members and
I think they will appreciate the timing of this announcement. We can
all look forward to working together in the new year to continue to
support and improve the teaching profession on behalf of students
and the public," said Registrar Doug Wilson.
Mr. Kennedy said
in his letter to the College that he plans to work with education
partners to develop a professional learning framework that "recognizes
teachers' learning needs at each stage of their teaching career and
supports them with programs and incentives to achieve ongoing teaching
excellence for Ontario students."
Laframboise noted
that the College Council endorsed in 2000 the Professional Learning
Framework for the Teaching Profession following extensive consultation
with our members and the public. "This framework has been very
well received by our education partners and we will be bringing this
framework to the table in future discussions about professional learning."
In April 2000,
at the request of the government of the day, the College prepared
a report on "teacher testing" - Maintaining, Ensuring and
Demonstrating Competency in the Teaching Profession. Council in its
recommendations to the government clearly advised against linking
any program of professional learning to teacher certification.
Background
Documents
