Second annual teacher recruitment fair

Education Minister Judy Foote is pleased to announce the Department of Education is once again sponsoring the annual Teacher Recruitment Fair at Memorial University of Newfoundland. This event is in partnership with the university, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association and the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards� Association.

"We are determined to maintain a highly qualified teacher work force in every school in this province," said Minister Foote. "However, we recognize the difficulty some boards are experiencing in recruiting teachers for smaller or more isolated communities and in highly specialized areas such as mathematics and science.

"This recruitment fair is intended to provide school boards with an opportunity to profile job opportunities and related information for prospective teachers. The fair also aims to promote teaching as a career option. We want to see more university students recruited to teach particularly in specialty areas such as science, mathematics and special education."

The teacher recruitment fair is the latest in a series of initiatives undertaken by the Department of Education in response to recommendations from the provincial advisory group on teacher recruitment and retention.

The collective agreement recently signed with the NLTA and the school boards association includes a substantial increase in the salary of beginning teachers. As of September 2002, the salary for beginning teachers will be $36,900. This is up from $30,300, the salary for beginning teachers in 1999. This is an increase of 22 per cent in three years. By 2004, the salary for a beginning teacher will be $39,700. Last year government established a $5,000 bonus for teachers in certain coastal communities in Labrador.

Minister Foote concluded: "Last year�s recruitment fair was a big success and we are pleased to partner with other education stakeholders in offering this opportunity to teachers and other university graduates for a second year. The initiatives undertaken by the provincial advisory group represent a significant commitment to the students of Newfoundland and Labrador and are clear examples of this government�s desire to collaborate with our education partners in maintaining the highest quality education system in Newfoundland and Labrador."

The fair takes place today at the Main Dining Hall, Memorial University St. John�s Campus.

Media contact: Catherina Kennedy, Communication, (709) 729-0048.

2002 05 16                         12:15 p.m.