The shortage of personnel in Quebec affects all employment sectors. But there are, in my opinion, two areas where the difficulty in finding employees can have serious consequences: health and education. It is on this last sector that I will focus, having worked there for 25 years.
Posted at 10:00 a.m.
Indeed, for some time we have seen many publications in the media reporting on the lack of teachers (and other staff) in schools. I read all these articles as well as the comments of the population on the subject. I find it unfortunate that often people say that the shortage is everywhere, so why should this be more serious?
It seems to me that the difference is obvious. First, the education shortage results from working conditions. Fewer young people are entering teaching at university, and more and more experienced teachers are leaving the profession after 5, 10 or more years. This is a clear sign that there is a serious problem in our schools. If it affects staff, it also affects children. Since the latter are not able to name and explain what is wrong, it becomes difficult to know what is happening. Schools are closed places. The public cannot enter, so you have to rely on the staff.
Then, we must seriously measure the consequences of this shortage. It’s one thing to have to wait in line longer at the bank or at the grocery store for lack of open checkouts, and it’s quite another to know that children who start their school career with joy and/or anxiety run the risk of not having a teacher at the start of the school year to accompany them in this major project.
School is the project of a lifetime. This is what allows a young person to access the job of their dreams.
Also, let’s be logical: if we want long-term mechanics, nurses, lawyers and accountants, it starts today. Otherwise, we risk being stuck in a vicious circle. It all starts at school. To have workers tomorrow, we must put everything into our education system today.
In summary, we need to look seriously at the reasons that lead teachers to leave their profession.
To agree to see his salary cut in half, to have to move to a smaller property, to wait until age 65 instead of 55 to receive the retirement pension and to lose the “two months of vacation”, it is necessary that it be serious. I know this very well since I myself left my position after 25 years.
So I think we have to stop and make a serious request to our government. Education must be the priority in Quebec. For real. Let’s stop hiding our heads in the sand. Yes, the challenge is great. We need to rethink the school as a whole. It has been forgotten for too long. But it’s never too late to do the right thing. Let’s show the rest of the world what Quebecers are like. People who are not afraid to stand up together to secure their future.