He was denied a teaching certificate, but principal says he's 'overqualified' for the job

For the past two months, Thirugnanasambanthar Thirukkumaran has been working as a volunteer teacher full-time at West Hill Collegiate Institute, waiting for his teacher's certificate to arrive.

If not for him, his Grade 11 and 12 students wouldn't have a regular chemistry teacher. Despite this, he was denied a certificate to teach by the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) last month for not having recognized academic credentials.

"It's kind of discrimination, for me," said Thirukkumaran, who's been tutoring students for the past two decades. It's currently as his main source of income. 

Thirukkumaran says he went back to school at the age of 43 to get his bachelor of education.

"[The OCT] should appreciate that and give support — instead, they push me back."

Advocates say situations like Thirukkumaran's highlight a problem in Ontario's education system that allows teacher candidates with international education to slip through the cracks, despite a teacher shortage driven by retirements and COVID-19. 

Fewer than 400 early-career graduates across Ontario were out of work and available for teaching jobs in 2021, compared to the peak of the teacher surplus in 2014, when more than 7,700 were unemployed, according to OCT estimates.

According to documents from World Education Services, a non-profit that evaluates international credentials for students and immigrants in the U.S. and Canada, Thirukkumaran has two chemistry accreditations from Sri Lanka and Australia, equivalent to a bachelor's degree and a post-graduate diploma here in Canada.

Thirukkumaran, who came to Canada in 2012 and is now a permanent resident, says both were accepted by Ontario Tech University— where he graduated with a bachelor of education in 2020— and by York University, where he is working towards a masters of science degree.

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It's been demoralizing to know a passionate and "overqualified" educator like Thirukkumaran can't get financially compensated for his hard work, says West Hill principal Trevor Bullen.

"It seems to be that there's decisions [made] about certain countries and the validity of their degrees," Bullen said.

"We've got to talk about allowing not just him— but any other person who comes to this country, does everything possible and wants the opportunity to give back— in the job of their chosen field."

A statement from OCT spokesperson Andrew Fifield says privacy laws prevent the college from sharing any information regarding specific applicants.