Students in Brock's Teacher Education programs benefit from time in the Brock Learning Lab, where they work with local youth and hone their skills as educators. As part of the 2025 Ontario Budget, the provincial government announced Thursday it is investing in nursing and teacher education.Brock University is applauding the Ontario government for its support of nursing and teacher education announced Thursday as part of the provincial budget.
Among the budget’s highlights is $55.8 million over two years to train 2,600 new English- and French-language teachers by 2027 and $56.8 million over three years to support nursing training and education, increasing spaces at publicly assisted colleges and universities.
“Brock’s Nursing and Teacher Education graduates provide critical support to our communities, improving the lives of residents locally and beyond. This provincial investment reaffirms the importance of that work and demonstrates the vital role universities play in building a skilled and successful workforce,” says Meaghan Rusnell, Interim Vice-President, External. “We look forward to learning the funding details and how they may benefit Brock students pursuing careers in these rewarding and impactful fields.”
The announcement comes at a time of continued growth in Brock’s Nursing and Teacher Education programs.
To support Ontario’s growing need for frontline health-care workers, the University has tripled enrolment in its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program over the past three years, with its largest-ever intake arriving this past fall.
Brock also launched Canada’s first and only concurrent Bachelor of Nursing/Master of Nursing degree, an accelerated 20-month program that prepares students for the workforce with graduate-level knowledge and skills.
In September, the University will open its Burlington campus, which will embed its Teacher Education programs, among other programming, in a community hub for learning and education at the newly renovated Robert Bateman Community Centre.
As the only university in the GTA West corridor offering teacher education, Brock has helped more than 32,000 graduates to develop the skills needed to make an impact in Ontario, across Canada and around the world.
“The need for highly skilled teachers and nurses has never been greater, and investment is a key part of addressing that need,” says Rusnell. “With innovative programs and world-class instruction, Brock is preparing its graduates to hit the ground running, making a difference immediately.”
