On October 4th, teacher candidates at Queen's University were set to begin their first block of practicum placements. However, many students are left without placements four weeks later. The faculty cites COVID-19 restrictions and concerns across school boards to lack of placement positions. 

The Faculty of Education has provided no adequate alternative to practicum, nor will they allow students to seek out their own placements. Instead, they have instructed unplaced teacher candidates to complete six hours of self-led professional development in EDII topics per day of missed placement. 

Unplaced teacher candidates are not getting the experience that was promised to them, and paid for. We demand a tuition rebate for the weeks of missed placement, as we are losing valuable practice that the Faculty of Education and Ontario College of Teachers deems necessary. We also need more communication from the Faculty and practicum office as to if and when we will get placements.