Quality Assurance or Election Fodder? The Politics of Teacher Testing in Ontario, 1999 - 2003

Abstract

A commitment to mandatory teacher testing formed part of the victorious Conservative government’s platform in the Ontario provincial election of 1999. For the next four years it sought to implement the controversial policy, over the objections of the organized teacher federations. Caught in the middle was the fledgling Ontario College of Teachers, which was used by the government to implement a policy opposed by its own membership. The two most contentious aspects of the teacher-testing program were a qualifying test for prospective new teachers, and mandatory recertification for veteran instructors. After four years, the program was only partially in place. Working behind the scenes, the teachers helped to defeat the government at the next general election.Whatever the motivation for the initial policy – public accountability or crass electioneering – a confrontational implementation led to its ultimate demise.