The Ministry of Education has ordered three ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools in Montreal to cease all activities immediately. These continued to receive students despite the fact that the pandemic is forcing remote schooling for all students in the province.
The office of Minister of Education Jean-François Roberge confirms that inspectors carried out visits to some schools in Jewish communities last week, but for the moment refuses to say how many establishments have been visited.
On Monday, three received formal notices, but others could follow.
Several media, including Press, have reported in recent weeks that some schools in the metropolis attended by children of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community are continuing their activities, despite government directives.
Dozens of students were notably seen leaving Belz school in the Outremont borough.
“Some schools [juives] complied with the rules and did not have any formal notice “, nuance however Florent Tantlet, press secretary for Minister Roberge, who reports for some of them” doors locked due to COVID-19 “.
At the end of December, the Montreal Police Department confirmed having visited schools following complaints for non-compliance with health measures.
The formal notices from the Ministry of Education “do not erase” the complaints made to the police, indicates Mr. Tantlet. Fines for violating health regulations could also be imposed on these schools.
The government closed elementary and secondary schools until January 17 due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Until then, schools must offer distance education.
A similar situation in 2020
A similar situation had occurred in December 2020. The Ministry of Education then qualified as “unacceptable” the fact that students continue to attend schools despite the health situation.
The Council of Hasidic Jews of Quebec was then said to be “appalled by the accusations” of the Minister of Education. These schools, it was argued, complied with government decree allowing students without the technology required for distance education to attend school in person.
“We believe that students in our communities fall into these categories,” argued the Council of Hasidic Jews. As of this writing on Monday evening, the Council had not returned our interview request.
With Florence Morin-Martel, Press