Paraphrasing Manon Massé who spoke about homelessness, I would say that it was not the strike days that put thousands of children in learning difficulties, but rather what was not done before!
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There is a lot of emphasis these days on catching up to ease parents’ concerns. Minister Drainville announced the creation of a $300 million fund to support plans developed by schools.
The flexibility he intends to demonstrate seems to me the best guarantee, in the short term, to encourage staff involvement and truly help students succeed in their school year.
However, it will be interesting, in light of the negotiated agreements, to see how life at school will be transformed and improved to promote the educational success of a greater number of people.
Balance sheet
Some analysts and citizens are already proposing major reforms without the outcome of the negotiations being sealed or the results of this round having been made.
The path favored by these people often boils down to adding constraints to workers in exercising their rights. Not sure that such an attitude would fix anything!
We can say, from now on, that the conventions will not resolve the biggest problems of the education system and that a permanent dialogue will be necessary if we want it to be more efficient.
Break away from simplism
Alienating workers is sure to perpetuate the problems.
Some would like to reform the way unions operate, apply the essential services law to schools and extend the duration of collective agreements. There is nothing in all this to eliminate the usual psychodrama of negotiations with the state.
If there is a debate to be had, it will certainly have to go beyond union rights and bring us to the area of social rights!