Students, alumni, and local residents filled a Mount Allison University auditorium eagerly anticipating an important announcement – the university is reintroducing its bachelor of education program. Mount Allison President Ian Sutherland expressed the significance of launching this new degree to the audience of over 100 attendees.
While the event highlighted the return of the program, most current Mount Allison students were not born when the university last offered a bachelor of education degree in 1997. Ryan Gamm, a special adviser to the provost involved in designing the new degree, explained that the previous program did not align with the university’s priorities at that time, and changes in teacher education requirements and certification played a role in its discontinuation.
The upcoming 16-month bachelor of education cohort, commencing in May 2028, will be open to individuals holding four-year bachelor’s degrees. The application process will begin in October 2027, with an expected initial intake of 70 to 90 students.
According to Gamm, there was significant interest among students in a bachelor of education program, with many graduates pursuing such degrees. The university aims to address the growing demand for teachers in New Brunswick through this program.
Randy MacLean, the superintendent of the Anglophone East School District, expressed enthusiasm for the new program, citing the increasing need for teachers in the region due to the construction of five new schools. Mount Allison graduates, like Sara McConnell, who teaches math and science at a local high school, see the value of the program in addressing the shortage of qualified teachers in the area.
The curriculum for the bachelor of education program includes a focus on Indigenous learning and a 12-week classroom practicum. Gamm emphasized the importance of adequately preparing future teachers for the diverse educational landscape they will encounter, with ongoing efforts to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into the program.