Public schools are increasingly depending on private services for essential roles like psychology and special education due to a shortage of qualified staff. Funding for these services has risen by 60% in four years, reaching over $14 million. This dependency raises concerns among education experts, who argue for reform to reduce reliance on privatization. Significant expenditure examples from various school service centers highlight the growing financial burden, prompting calls for stricter regulations on private providers in education.
Rising Dependency on Private Services in Public Schools
Public schools are increasingly relying on private services for essential areas such as psychology, speech therapy, and special education, primarily due to a shortage of qualified professionals. Over the past four years, funding for these services has surged by 60%, amounting to over $14 million, as highlighted in recent reports.
This growing trend has raised concerns among education stakeholders and experts who argue that the school system and the province of Quebec should take steps to reduce the reliance on private educational services.
Escalating Costs and Staffing Challenges
In the 2020-2021 school year, public schools allocated at least $2.8 million to private companies providing professional services for students. By the 2023-2024 school year, that figure escalated to $4.5 million.
A report compiled from data provided by 72 school service centers in the province reveals that this information is partial, as only around fifty organizations responded. Notably, more than 80% of these centers have utilized private sector services in the last four years.
Psychology and speech therapy, particularly evaluation services, accounted for a significant share of the expenditures within the school network. The underlying cause of this increase appears to be a significant shortage of staff, with 13% of professional roles vacant across public schools, and some centers reporting vacancy rates exceeding 30%.
For instance, in the Samares center located in Lanaudière, 38% of professional positions are currently unfilled, leading to a dramatic rise in expenses for private services in recent years.
Experts, including Jacques Landry, president of the Federation of Professionals in Education of Quebec (FPPE-CSQ), criticize the trend, labeling it as a “false solution” to a genuine issue. He emphasizes that many recommendations from private professionals do not align with the realities faced by schools and that their services often come with higher costs compared to those provided by in-house staff.
Furthermore, the Quebec Federation of School Administrators points to the need for a fundamental reform in service funding for students facing difficulties, advocating for a model that does not depend on formal evaluations, which would help reduce the reliance on private services.
As experts warn of potential repercussions similar to those seen in the healthcare system, they urge immediate action to address this drift towards privatization in education. They argue that without intervention, the challenges currently faced will only worsen, creating a cycle that exacerbates the existing staff shortages.
The Federation of Professionals in Education calls for more stringent regulations on the private sector, which is becoming increasingly influential and costly. They stress the importance of addressing this growing issue before it becomes ingrained in the educational landscape.
Examples of Financial Engagement with Private Providers
Several school service centers have reported significant expenditures on private services over the years. Here are a few notable examples:
- Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup School Service Center (Bas-St-Laurent)
2020-2021: $41,070
2021-2022: $104,102
2022-2023: $160,915
2023-2024: $219,339 - Premières-Seigneuries School Service Center (Quebec)
2020-2021: $191,538
2021-2022: $383,417
2022-2023: $326,188
2023-2024: $517,857 - Samares School Service Center (Lanaudière)
2020-2021: $776
2021-2022: $1,828
2022-2023: $60,941
2023-2024: $206,155 - Pointe-de-l’Île School Service Center
2020-2021: $43,349
2021-2022: $54,386
2022-2023: $110,017
2023-2024: $120,077
These figures reflect the amounts spent on private sector services in various fields, including psychology, speech therapy, special education, psychoeducation, and occupational therapy. The trend raises questions about the sustainability and effectiveness of relying on private services in public education.