College teacher education program once again accepting students
WHITEHORSE –The Yukon Native Teacher Education Program (YNTEP) at Yukon College will be accepting first year students once again for classes beginning in September 2013. Intake was suspended for the 12/13 academic year in order to conduct a program review.
“We have carefully considered the program review that was completed last summer and worked with the program stakeholders to develop a plan for addressing the review recommendations,” said Dr. Deb Bartlette, dean of Applied Arts and associate vice president Academic. “The review showed that the YNTEP program is academically on par with other teacher education programs in Canada, but did make some recommendations to improve the delivery of the program and its relevance to our unique Yukon context.”
The plan has been developed by a Review Action Committee made up of representatives from Yukon First Nations, the Yukon Teachers Association, Yukon College and Yukon Education.
“We have identified the elements that are important to maintain in a Yukon teacher education program as well as new elements we will add to the program over the next four to five years, beginning in September.”
Immediate changes to the program will include advanced courses for the teaching of reading, and shifting from courses that focus on the technical approach of how to teach, to courses that address a more philosophical approach, such as what does it mean to be a teacher, what makes a good teacher, and what biases one brings into the classroom.
Over the next four to five years, the program will work with University of Regina (UR) and other partners and stakeholders to build a new, ‘made-in-Yukon’ teacher education program.
“New programs take time to build. We will also be ensuring a smooth transition for current and future students into whatever is developed,” added Dr. Bartlette.
The College will be signing a new five year agreement with UR in April. This agreement will see the College exporting some Yukon program elements to UR programs for the first time.
“They admire and respect the work we have done to include a strong First Nations cultural component within our program and seek to benefit from that in Saskatchewan,” said Dr. Bartlette.
“This new agreement will give the College more control over the program, while also forging stronger links with the UR program and faculty.”
Bartlette added that Yukon College and UR are working together to integrate the program into the College’s governance, administrative, and academic structures, as was recommended by the review.
For more information on the four year Bachelor of Education (YNTEP) program please go to www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/programs/view/yntep
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For more information, contact:
Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca
Jacqueline Bedard
Director
College Relations
Yukon College
867.456.8619
jbedard@yukoncollege.yk.ca