From Lac-Saint-Jean to Estrie, via Laval, Abitibi, and Outaouais, nearly twenty citizen forums will be organized this spring to discuss the Quebec education system, announced Tuesday the citizen movement Let’s talk about education.
This “crazy initiative”, of which The Press reported on Monday, was set up two years ago and comes from the feeling that it is urgent to act in education in Quebec, spokespersons explained at a press briefing in Montreal on Tuesday.
About a hundred volunteers took part in its development and the project is supported by nearly thirty organizations, including unions, but the organizers insist: Let’s talk about education wants to be independent.
All citizens of Quebec will be invited to participate in the forums which will be held from mid-March to the beginning of June.
“Everyone, including the prime minister! launched Suzanne-G. Chartrand, spokesperson for Let’s Talk Education. As for the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, he will also be welcome like all the other citizens, assured the organizers.
In each city where a forum will be organized, five themes will be addressed, namely rethinking the school’s mission, building an equitable education system for all students, encouraging social and cultural inclusion, enhancing the professional skills of school staff and democratize the Quebec school system.
“The problems, we know them quite a bit, they are rather in the public square,” said Suzanne-G. Chartrand. Shortage of teachers, overwork of staff, dilapidated schools, she notably listed, noting in passing that “education is the heart of a society”.
“Influencing the Government”
If he finds that “the listening of the government has not been there for years”, the movement wants the number of citizens to weigh in the balance.
“Listening will be there if there is a balance of power, if there is a sufficiently coherent citizen point of view to say: there, that is no longer going”, says Mme Chartrand, who ensures that the conclusions drawn from the reflection will not remain a “dead letter”.
“There may be more consensus than we think [en éducation] says Jean Trudelle, Coordinator of Let’s Talk Education. In particular, he believes that there is a “social consensus” on the issue of school segregation.
The Let’s Talk Education movement says it is not neutral, but assures that it will make room for dissenting opinions, for example if a participant wanted to see more specific paying projects.
“It’s the discussion that’s important, it’s not imposing anything,” says Suzanne-G. Chartrand. “We are not against specific projects, but why shouldn’t everyone be entitled to them? she asked.
At the end of the exercise, Parlons éducation hopes to “influence the course of things and the government,” says Jean Trudelle. “What’s clear is that we don’t want to arrive with a grocery list at the end. We want something more global,” says Mr. Trudelle.
The best way to challenge the government following the citizens’ forums remains to be defined, he added.