The province will offer two new programs at Cape Breton University to help get more teachers into classrooms faster.
Spending $250,000 in 2023-24 and about $1 million annually after that, the accelerated Bachelor of Education programs will increase the number of funded seats at the university from 40 to 115, with the province providing funding for the additional 75 seats for the next three years.
The first is an eight-month online pilot that will allow students to complete the program and practicum anywhere in N.S. beginning in January, with teachers ready to hit the classroom by September 2024.
The second is a one-year in-person program in May to replace the university’s current 15-month program.
Both new programs consist of 48 credits of coursework and 12 credits of practicum work, as does the 15-month program.
“Teachers are the foundation of our education system. We need more of them to respond to our growing population, support teachers already in the system and meet the needs of students across the province,” said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “These new programs provide new ways to offer the same high-quality bachelor of education program online and in a shorter amount of time to help get teachers into classrooms faster.”
There are about 480 fist-year students in B. Ed programs in the province, which is a two-year degree. Five Nova Scotia universities currently offer B.Ed. programs – Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Mount Saint Vincent University, St. Francis Xavier University and Université Sainte-Anne
Information about how to apply is available online at: https://www.cbu.ca/academics/programs/bachelor-of-education/
