VIU is helping to address teacher shortages in British Columbia, particularly in rural and remote communities, with the launch of a new education delivery model.
Photo: Vancouver Island University
Developed with funding from the provincial government, students will have the opportunity to learn to be teachers in their home community.
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is helping to address teacher shortages in British Columbia, particularly in rural and remote communities, with the launch of a new education delivery model.
The Dispersed Teacher Education Program is a three-year, hybrid Bachelor of Education degree. It was developed to provide an option for people who are working in a K-12 school and want to maintain their employment while pursuing their Bachelor of Education degree, or those who live long distances from the nearest university offering a teacher education program, who can’t relocate full-time for school.
Courses are delivered both online and in-person at VIU’s Nanaimo campus with practicums in the students’ home communities. Students can stay in their home community for about 70 per cent of the time they are in the program, said Dr. Rachel Moll, Dean of Education and Academic and Career Preparation at VIU.
The program was approved by the BC Teacher’s Council in May 2025 and meets all the requirements students need to apply for their BC K-12 teacher certification. Program design emphasizes flexibility, accessibility and strong partnerships with rural and remote school districts. This helps address ongoing teacher shortages by supporting educators who are more likely to stay and teach where they are most needed.
“VIU’s Bachelor of Education program has an excellent reputation and we are excited to adapt our model for this context to meet the needs of the K-12 sector,” said Moll.
The Dispersed Teacher Education Program was developed with funding from the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and the Ministry of Education and Child Care.
“VIU’s Dispersed Teacher Education program will open the door for more people to become certified teachers while staying close to home,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. “It is a practical, flexible approach that supports local schools to attract and retain teachers who are connected to their communities.”
“British Columbia needs more teachers, especially in rural and remote communities, and this innovative program from Vancouver Island University is an important step toward meeting the demand,” said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “Flexible pathways that allow people to continue living and working in their home communities while earning a bachelor’s degree open doors for in-demand professionals and strengthen BC’s workforce.”
Applications are now open. Prospective students must have 66 university-level credits completed before entering the program. These credits must include a combination of English, math, Canadian studies and science. The deadline to apply is April 10. Those interested can attend an info session, offered every two weeks through February and March.
Liana Appelt, Chair of VIU’s Undergraduate Education programs, is excited by the potential long-term positive impacts of the program.
“In three-and-a-half years from now, VIU will graduate its first cohort of students, which in turn means hundreds of K-7 students will benefit from being taught by a fully certified BC teacher who has strong connections to the local community,” she said.
For more information, visit the Dispersed Teacher Education Program homepage.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Eric Zimmer, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University
P: 250.618.7296 | E: Eric.Zimmer@viu.ca |W: news.viu.ca
The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’amin, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nation on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.
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