The Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, believes that the acquisition of more “proven data” by his ministry will have positive effects on the academic success of students. He nevertheless continues to refute the idea that a “three-speed school” exists in Quebec, since the studies that led to this conclusion contained, in his opinion, a “bias”.
“Me, I find that the thesis on the three-speed school has an ideological bias,” declared the minister on Monday during an editorial table organized in the offices of the Duty. “An ideological bias is perhaps a bit strong, he corrected himself. But I would say a conceptual bias, well. »
In this way, the minister criticized the conclusions of the Superior Council on Education (CSE), which submitted a report in 2016 arguing that Quebec had the most inequitable school network in Canada. With its new reform, the CSE is losing its feathers: its mission becomes limited “to questions relating to higher education”, it is written in Bill 23.
After several pleas in favor of “scientific knowledge” and “proven data”, Mr. Drainville attacked the ways of evaluating the Quebec school system.
“To say that access to university is the measure by which we must judge whether the system is egalitarian or unequal, in my opinion, is a short sight,” he pleaded. “It’s an intellectual shortcut and, in a way, it’s an elitist vision, also, of education, because someone who decides to go and study for a skilled trade is going to be just as happy, if not happier happy, than if he had chosen to go to university. »
According to a 2019 study by Professor Pierre Canisius Kamanzi, of the University of Montreal, 15% of students who attend the “ordinary” public in high school will go to university. This rate increases to 51% for the public with selection and to 60% for the private sector.
Continuing education
The education reform proposed by Mr. Drainville provides in particular that “the Minister may, by regulation, provide for the terms and conditions relating to the continuing education” of teachers. Under the current law, it is the teachers themselves who choose the training activities “that best respond to [leurs] needs “.
However, some teachers are content to turn to a book, the minister regretted. « “I read a book, it counts for 3 hours of my 30 hours [de formation continue obligatoire] over two years,” explained Mr. Drainville, citing real examples. “Currently, the process that governs continuing education is not rigorous. »
He defended himself from wanting to “dictate the content” of continuing education. “In some cases, we will ensure that a theme will be prioritized”, such as the teaching of French or even “class management”, he explained. “But for the most part, the teachers will choose the courses. And school principals will ensure that they follow them. »
His orientations on continuing education “concretely demonstrate”, in his opinion, the government’s commitment “towards academic success”, since this training ultimately leads to “better student performance” and “better academic results”. “Me, my mandate, in a word or in a sentence, is: how can I improve academic success? he summed up.
Centralization
With his reform, Minister Drainville removes from members of the boards of directors of school service centers — and from elected commissioners in English-language school boards — the power to appoint the directors general of their local governance institution. The minister sees the dgs as actors aiming to “operationalise” the orientations of the ministry.
He wishes to give himself the power to reverse their decisions, or to replace them. “It could happen that a CEO says: ‘Special projects, I don’t believe in them.’ […] At some point, it may happen that we say: “Sir, Madam, we don’t get along. So, we’re going to let each other, yes. I will have to replace you, ”he admitted.
Mr. Drainville nevertheless rejected — in part — the criticisms about the centralization created by his bill. “It’s true, I give the Minister of Education the power to appoint the general managers of the service centres. That is true. Now, what happens next, the implementation of the guidelines, it remains totally decentralized”, he underlined.
He has dismissed out of hand the criticism that he now deprives himself of any criticism or counterweight. “We read about it every day, counterweights in the newspapers. The experts speak out; the unions, which are very active, do not lack a forum to make themselves heard. Deans, columnists and columnists are making their voices heard,” he said.
He also criticized these counterweights for making a “slightly lame comparison” by comparing the increase in remuneration proposed to elected members of the National Assembly (30%) and that proposed to teachers – “who do not earn enough,” according to the minister.
“And if my name was Michel David, I would say that she is a bit demagogic,” he told the columnist, who was sitting opposite him. “You are really comparing the job of teacher at job deputy? Are you telling me it compares? »