High-quality Teachers and Administrators for English-language Schools in Québec : Preparation, Induction and Support

The Advisory Board on English Education begins by commending the teachers and principals of the English-language schools of the province for the crucial work they do in educating the future citizens of Québec, Canada, and the world. Education has always been an important preoccupation of English-speaking Quebeckers. Graduates of English-language schools have contributed greatly to the institutions of the province, and the schoolhouse has traditionally provided a focal point for rural populations of the community. Worldwide, there is a recognition that education must change to accommodate the needs of twenty-first century graduates, and that therefore the curriculum and teachers must also change. Many countries have developed initiatives that aim to prepare, support, and retain teachers more effectively than in the past, and to encourage young people to become teachers, especially in disciplines such as science and mathematics, seen as necessary for living in contemporary society. Our goal in this brief is to respond to the preoccupation that the English-language schools of Québec need even more good teachers and principals who, in turn, need more appropriate preparation and more support so that they do not leave the profession but continue to develop within it.