Minister
‘Studying’ College Request for PLP Funding; Fees Must Rise
The Ontario College
of Teachers has announced a $35 a year increase in its annual membership
fee, effective January 1, 2003.
At its September
27 meeting, the College Council approved the 2003 budget with a fee
increase of $35 in order to meet the costs of administering the Professional
Learning Program (PLP) in 2003.
The College’s
plan to hold the fee at $104 until 2004 was made before the introduction
of the PLP in June 2001. The College has asked the government to pay
the cost of administering the program, but the government has not
given the College a firm answer on additional funding.
"Without
the rapid expansion that was needed to implement and operate the Professional
Learning Program, the College budget would show a slight surplus –
despite the fact that our services to our members are growing,"
said Registrar Joe Atkinson. "But the size and scope of the program
are such that we must have more financial resources to operate it."
The increase to
$139 was the minimum increase possible to ensure the College can continue
to meet its mandated responsibilities and still be certain there will
be sufficient reserves if it encounters unexpected expenses. Even
with this increase, the College fee is still among the lowest of the
self-regulating professional bodies in the province.
The College has
implemented the legislation in a way to maximize PLP benefits to members
and to maintain high quality teaching in Ontario. The PLP offers members
an opportunity to have their professional learning formally recognized.
The government
announced the Professional Learning Program in June 2001, informing
the College at the same time that the program was to be operating
by September. As a result of a business plan for the PLP submitted
to the government, then Minister of Education Janet Ecker committed
$8 million to cover implementation costs. That money will be spent
by the end of 2002.
Comments on the
fee increase may be sent to the College at fees@oct.on.ca.
For more detailed information on these and other issues, please visit
the College web site at www.oct.on.ca.
| Annual
Fees Comparison – September 2002 |
| Regulatory Body |
Annual Fee |
| Law Society of Upper Canada |
$1731.26 |
| College of Midwives |
$1535 |
| College of Dental Surgeons |
$1310 |
| College of Denturists |
$1007 |
| College of Dental Technologists |
$909.50 |
| Institute of Chartered Accountants |
$839.95 |
| College of Physicians & Surgeons |
$820 |
| College of Optometrists |
$802.50 |
| College of Psychologists |
$795 |
| College of Opticians |
$732.95 |
| College of Chiropractors |
$650 |
| College of Veterinarians |
$561.75 |
| College of Respiratory Therapists |
$500 |
| College of Audiologists |
$500 |
| College of Pharmacists |
$478.87 |
| College of Occupational Therapists |
$450 |
| College of Physiotherapists |
$425 |
| College of Massage Therapists |
$375 |
| College of Dietitians |
$350 |
| College of Radiation Technologists |
$267.50 |
| College of Dental Hygienists |
$250 |
| College of Medical Laboratory Technologists |
$214 |
| Association of Professional Engineers |
$181.90 |
| College of Teachers |
$139 (proposed) |
| College of Nurses |
$125 |
| College of Teachers |
$104 (current) |
(September
23, 2002) |
College Sought Government Funding for PLP
The Ontario College
of Teachers informed Minister of Education Elizabeth Witmer of the
financial pressures being created by the operating costs of the government-mandated
Professional Learning Program (PLP) in an effort to avoid passing
the costs on to College members.
In a letter dated
August 9 to the Minister, College Council Chair Larry Capstick and
Registrar Joe Atkinson wrote that the organization was facing tough
decisions because of the PLP and requested $7 million to cover the
program’s 2003 operating costs to avoid having to pass the costs on
to its members.
"Without
a commitment of funding from your ministry to cover 2003 program expenditures,
the College will be required to propose a significant membership fee
increase," College officials wrote.
"In the absence
of a fee increase or funding commitment from the ministry, the College
will dissipate all of its accumulated reserves during 2003,"
the College officials wrote.
The August 9 letter
to the Minister pointed out that she has raised expectations of changes
to the PLP by inviting the Ontario Teachers’ Federation and affiliates
to provide advice on how the program might be revised. However, the
Council must "set fees for the legislation as it currently exists."
"Our deadline
for any budget adjustments is September 23. Many documents are produced
in October with the next year’s fee information, including registration
guides, published notices to members, school boards and others. Beyond
this date, we cannot change the fee."
In a response
September 13, the Minister wrote that the College’s request had "raised
a number of issues that require careful consideration," including
"impacts on the College’s decision-making autonomy and management
flexibility."
Given the timelines,
the Minister’s reply that she will study the request for operational
funding has made it necessary for the College to implement a $35 increase
in the annual membership fee.
In August 2001,
the College presented the Minister of Education with a business plan
for the PLP outlining the $8.2 million in one-time costs and $10.2
million in annual operating costs at maturity. The ministry provided
$8 million for implementation in November 2001. The money will be
used up by the end of 2002. Comments on the fee increase may be sent
to the College at fees@oct.on.ca.
For more detailed information on these and other issues, please visit
the College web site at www.oct.on.ca.
College
Joins Forces with Universities to Attract Technological Studies Teachers
For the past couple
of years, the College has been working with the faculties of education
to address the severe shortage of technological studies teachers in
Ontario’s secondary schools. According to College research conducted
in 2000, 37 per cent of tech-qualified teachers will retire by 2005.
New teachers are required – and one of the best sources may be people
in other professions looking to change careers.
The latest issue
of Professionally Speaking, for example, highlights teachers
who have made the leap and whose varied backgrounds and experiences
have brought an added dimension to students’ learning.
To further stimulate
interest in teaching careers and to aid in recruitment efforts, the
College issued a news release on September 25 in conjunction with
the Association of Education Registrars of Ontario Universities (AEROU)
and the Ontario Council of Technological Education (OCTE). Click here
to see a copy of Shortage
of Technological Teachers Reaching Critical Levels.
This initiative
is part of the College’s efforts to assist AEROU and OCTE. It also
extends the strong working partnership we’ve formed with Margaret
Buchanan, the faculty of education academic counsellor at The University
of Western Ontario and the subcommittee she chairs on Technological
Studies on AEROU’s behalf.
"What students
use and learn in technology today they’ll use to power Canada's workforce
and economy in the future," Margaret says. "Hiring experienced
trade-savvy professionals to teach our young people is a priority
in education."
The subcommittee
is looking squarely at the situation and searching for solutions and
we’re pleased to be able to help. Supporting the awareness drive is
in keeping with our ongoing efforts to ensure that Ontario’s school
boards have qualified, certified teachers in every classroom.
Do you know someone
in a technology-related profession who may be looking for a career
change and the opportunity to positively influence the lives of students?
Please direct them to Western or the faculties at Brock, Queen’s,
Ottawa, and OISE/UT for information and advice on how they can become
teachers of Technological Studies.
Job opportunities
abound!
