Towards Equity

This paper critically examines the persistent underrepresentation of Black and racialized pre-service educators in Ontario’s education system, despite the province’s growing student diversity and Canada’s ongoing immigration trends. Drawing on recent research, demographic data, and policy analysis, the review highlights the disparity between Ontario’s diverse student population and the predominantly White teaching workforce. The lack of representative educators not only perpetuates systemic inequities but also affects the academic and social experiences of racialized students. The study identifies institutional barriers, such as a shortage of diverse mentors and inadequate inclusion of equity principles in teacher education programs, that hinder the professional growth of racialized teacher candidates. The paper advocates for a transformative redesign of Ontario’s teacher education programs, emphasizing the comprehensive integration of equity, diversity, inclusion, social justice, anti-racist methods, and culturally sustaining pedagogy to foster a more representative and inclusive teaching workforce.