To improve access to French-language postsecondary education, the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities has dedicated $16.5 million to French-language post-secondary programming in central and southwestern Ontario.
The decision comes after an expert panel on French-language postsecondary education access recommended the MTCU help expand programs and services on French language in Ontario.
“The Ontario government and the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities recognizes the importance of providing Francophone students with a broader range of postsecondary programs and services in French,” says the MTCU in an email.
In total, York’s Glendon College, along with La Cité collégiale in Ottawa, and College Boreal in Sudbury will receive $2 million. This plan, announced on October 24, was launched to serve the growing francophone population in central and southwestern Ontario.
Francophones in the central and southwestern regions make up a third of Ontario’s total francophone population with more than half concentrated in the GTA.
Kenneth McRoberts, principal of Glendon College, welcomes the investment, noting that Glendon and York are very limited in what they offer in French education.
“What is offered by Glendon and York is quite limited to social sciences and humanities,” says McRoberts.
The money allocated for York would help Glendon establish new programs in different areas such as communications, law, psychology, business, and biology; McRoberts says these programs are in high demand.
McRoberts states it’s important to the future of the francophone population and expanding students’ mastery of French.
Though details of how the funds will be distributed have yet to be decided, the ministry will be issuing a call for proposals to support the development and delivery of new programs in high demands in southern Ontario.
Victoria Alarcon
Assistant News Editor
