Budget cuts from the Ministry of Immigration are causing other victims: the francization program of the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) is preparing to close its doors, due to lack of funding commensurate with its needs, we have learned Duty. From November 25, dozens of full-time and part-time French courses will no longer be given, leaving nearly 500 students and around twenty teachers in the lurch.
“If the MEQ [ministère de l’Éducation du Québec] does not change its position on our ceiling for this year, these will be the last francization courses offered,” wrote Steve Dunn, director of the Adult Education Center of the Eastern Townships School Board, in a letter sent to all teachers on September 13. “Although we are very committed to our position and our services, if the decision does not change, we will still be in a deficit situation that we will have to resolve and which will not go beyond November 25. »
Last June, Duty revealed that faced with the explosion in francization costs, linked to strong demand, the government had revised its method of calculating subsidies. This had created major holes in the budget of school service centers, which had been asked to admit fewer students. Some have been forced to reduce their supply of half courseothers to reduce it practically to zero.
From strong growth… to zero
In his letter to ETSB teachers, Mr. Dunn explained that under the new budgetary rules, funding for francization would be granted based on the number of teachers who gave courses in 2020-2021. At that time, francization had not yet taken off at the Eastern Townships School Board and there were only 6 FTEs (full-time equivalents). However, the demand for the courses exploded in a short time, so much so that last year, there were 114 ETCs.
“We went from the highest growth in the province to the largest drop in expected funding due to this decision. […] We do not agree with this decision and would like to continue to offer the services we have built and serve our students,” he wrote.
Contacted by DutySteve Dunn says he is “in discussions at different levels” to be able to continue funding the program. “We are aware that the stability of our students and teachers is compromised, but we simply do not yet know what we can do. » He takes the opportunity to emphasize that the satisfaction rate is “extremely high” with regard to the francization services of his school board, which have experienced “a considerable increase”.
End of term for teachers
Teachers are nevertheless receiving a communication these days from human resources managers at the Eastern Townships School Board indicating “a new end date” for November 25, according to an email consulted by Duty. However, it is attributed to “an anticipated drop in customers”.
“We thought we were building something good in francization, but we are having the rug pulled out from under us,” laments a teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. “We knew it was growing quickly, but we told ourselves it would stabilize. And there, we are told that it will no longer exist at all. »
We went from experiencing the strongest growth in the province to experiencing the largest drop in expected funding due to this decision.
She says she is still in shock. “I cried so much. I was happy to be able to work in something motivating. »
Even if the government seeks to reduce temporary immigration, the current needs are still dire. “Bill 96 has still not been amended and immigrants are still required to learn the language in six months,” she recalls. I find it rather delightful [la] motivation [des étudiants] and their commitment to wanting to live in French; but for that, we must give them the opportunity. »
Disappointed students
Natalie Cooper, a lawyer from Toronto who lives in Cowansville, says she is “disappointed” to lose her French class. “I don’t know many people in Quebec, so it gave me the opportunity to meet people. We had created a little community,” she says.
Mme Cooper began his francization two years ago with the aim of taking his professional exam. For this native Trinidadian with young children, online classes gave her the flexibility she needed. “I return to my country two or three times a year and I can even continue my French studies. »
She fears going back to square one by registering with Francisation Québec. “I heard that the waiting list is extremely long,” she says. Her only option remains the Granby CEGEP, paid courses which will require her to travel.
Helena Pinheiro, a Brazilian psychologist, says she is “very sad” to lose her French class. “I went two years without a course, and now I’ve just found a course that suits me, but that’s going to stop,” she laments. I feel like I was finally learning something. And I need French if I want to work! »
Mme Pinheiro finds it ironic to see everywhere advertisements encouraging immigrants to become French when they are now prevented from doing so according to their needs. “I don’t feel considered. It’s as if I’m excluded from society, and yet I’m making an effort to learn French. »