Students, alumni, and community members gathered at a Mount Allison University auditorium for an eagerly awaited announcement – the university is reintroducing its bachelor of education program.
Mount Allison president Ian Sutherland expressed the significance of launching the new bachelor of education degree to the audience. Although most current Mt. A students were not born when the school last offered this degree in 1997, the event celebrated its return.
Ryan Gamm, a special adviser to the provost involved in designing the new degree, explained that changes in teacher education requirements and certification prompted the relaunch. The program will be accessible to individuals with four-year bachelor’s degrees.
Applications for the program will open in October 2027, with the inaugural cohort set to commence classes in May 2028. The university aims to admit between 70 and 90 students initially, based on strong student interest revealed in a survey conducted the previous year.
The university administration hopes that the program will address the need for more teachers in New Brunswick. Ryan Gamm emphasized Mount Allison’s ability to tailor the program to meet New Brunswick’s educational needs and prepare teachers for the current school environment.
The curriculum for the bachelor of education program includes a focus on Indigenous learning and a 12-week practicum in a local classroom. This initiative is welcomed by Anglophone East School District superintendent Randy MacLean, who sees it as a beneficial partnership to address the growing need for educators in the region.
Mount Allison graduates, like Sara McConnell, who is now a high school math and science teacher, see the value of such a program. McConnell highlighted the demand for qualified teachers in southeastern New Brunswick, especially in subjects like math and science.
The 16-month bachelor of education program, with its practical training and emphasis on Indigenous learning, aims to prepare students effectively for the challenges of modern teaching. Gamm stressed the importance of ongoing work towards Indigenization within the program as it progresses and matures.