Ontario Expanding Teaching Workforce in the Region of Durham
September 26, 2025
$4.9 million investment for Ontario Tech University will prepare students for successful futures by training more teachers.
News | September 26, 2025
DURHAM — The Ontario government is expanding the province’s teaching workforce by investing $4.9 million to add 469 teaching seats at Ontario Tech University in the Durham Region. This investment supports the government’s plan to protect Ontario by ensuring Ontario Tech has the teachers they need to prepare students for successful careers and good-paying, in-demand jobs.
“Teachers play a vital role in ensuring our children receive a strong start to their future education and careers,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “Through this investment, our government is protecting our children’s future by expanding teaching capacity and bringing more highly qualified teachers to communities across Ontario.”
“Our government is focused on supporting students to ensure they are provided with every opportunity for success and that starts with expanding our teaching workforce,” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “Supporting Ontario’s publicly funded universities including, Ontario Tech University in Oshawa that offers a Bachelor of Education program, this investment will offer more enrollment spaces for those who want to pursue teaching specializing in accelerated programs and add more teachers in Durham Region and other communities across Ontario.”
This funding is a part of the Ontario government’s $55.8M investment to get up to 2,600 new teachers into classrooms by 2027, with an emphasis for technological education, as well as underserved areas like French, northern, rural, Indigenous, and remote regions that need teachers the most.
“With this $4.9 million investment in Ontario Tech University, our government is taking meaningful action to strengthen the education system and meet the growing needs of Pickering, Uxbridge and Durham Region,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Member of Provincial Parliament for Pickering-Uxbridge. “By expanding the number of teaching seats, we’re helping ensure more qualified teachers are ready to support students and set them up for long-term success.”
“By expanding teacher training at Ontario Tech University, our Government is not only addressing the growing demand for qualified educators but also ensuring that Whitby and the broader Durham Region have the skilled workforce necessary to support the next generation,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security. “This investment will provide local students with the expertise and opportunities they need to succeed in high-demand careers and deliver real results for hard working families across the Durham Region.””
“We are focused on helping students succeed, and that begins with having qualified and ready teachers in every classroom,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “By expanding teacher training seats in high-demand areas like French, technology, and in rural and northern communities, we’re helping schools fill gaps and giving students the support they need for the jobs of tomorrow.”
By increasing the province’s pipeline of highly skilled teachers, our government is ensuring that all children and youth in Durham Region gain practical skills for the jobs of tomorrow.
QUOTES
“Ontario Tech University is pleased with the government’s commitment to addressing the growing demand for qualified teachers in Ontario. This investment will allow us to expand our teacher education capacity in our accelerated program and produce graduates who make optimal use of new and emerging digital technologies for learning. This investment will allow us to address the pressing need for more teachers in the Region of Durham and contribute to Ontario’s goals of improving student outcomes.”
– Dr. Steven Murphy, President and Vice-Chancellor
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