On September 8, the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, is highlighting the Provincial Government's investment to support a new Rural Education Cohort within the Faculty of Education at Memorial University.
The Rural Education Cohort program (Primary/Elementary) is an option available to students as a second degree. It is intended for individuals who are seeking a meaningful career in rural education, and who want to learn, train and work in communities closer to their home.
This full-time, five-semester program is designed specifically for students residing in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, offering a flexible and accessible pathway to teacher certification. Delivered primarily through remote learning, the program also includes opportunities for regional, in-person workshops, allowing students to connect with peers and faculty while remaining rooted in their communities.
The first Rural Education Cohort begins in Winter 2026 and will accept 25 individuals. The deadline for priority applications is September 15. Further applications will be accepted if any open seats remain.
Through Budget 2025, the Provincial Government has invested $20 million, growing to over $44 million next year, to add 400 educational resources to the K-12 school system. To support recruitment and retention of teachers, Budget 2025 also allocated $850,000 to provide targeted recruitment and retention initiatives for positions in historically hard-to-fill rural, remote and isolated areas of the province.
Quotes
"This new Rural Education Cohort at Memorial University opens doors for students in rural and remote communities to earn their education degree closer to home. It's about making teacher training more accessible, so future educators can learn where they live, foster community connections, and teach where they're needed most."
Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
"As the sole site of teacher education in the province, one of the primary goals of the faculty has been the creation of accessible program routes to addresses the needs of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Most of our graduate programs have been available in online formats for several years. We are pleased to have the support of government on this expansion into undergraduate teacher education programming and are looking forward to welcoming students this January".
Dr. Pamela Osmond-Johnson, Dean and Professor, Faculty of Education, Memorial University
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For more information
Prince Phillip Drive
St. John's Newfoundland
Canada A1B 4J6
www.gov.nl.ca
