To help solve the labor shortage in this sector, TÉLUQ University and the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) jointly announced on Friday the addition of qualifying master's degrees in teaching in their respective courses.

The master's degree in preschool education and elementary education, offered by TÉLUQ University in association with UQAT, and the master's degree in secondary education, mathematics and French concentrations, offered by UQAT in association with TÉLUQ University, is offered to people who have a bachelor's degree and an active employment relationship with a school service center, but who do not have their certificate to teach in Quebec. According to the Ministry of Education, 3,757 teachers were not legally qualified in 2020-2021, three times more than five years earlier.

“Known for our respective expertise in distance education, it is a great pride for UQAT to partner with TÉLUQ University to offer these new qualifying master’s degrees that will meet the needs of the school environment. The 100% online formula will also allow greater accessibility and flexibility for students, throughout Quebec,” said Vincent Rousson, rector of UQAT, in a press release.

The first interested parties in each program will be trained from the start of the 2022 academic year, and admissions are still open. A first qualifying master's degree in education, option preschool education and primary education for teachers already in post already exists at the University of Montreal, but it is extremely limited. Last year, out of 942 applications, the University accepted only 225 applications.