The Minister of Education of Quebec, Jean-François Roberge, shows great optimism as the return to class approaches for 1.3 million students.
He said in a statement released Thursday that the fight against the labor shortage has been successful, that educational support has improved and that school environments are safer.
However, the Minister acknowledges that the school transportation file has not yet been settled.
Minister Roberge points out that since last June, the staff recruitment campaign entitled Répondons present has received more than 6,000 applications. He adds that the school service centers have also recruited staff and that the government will ensure that it has competent staff in each class in Quebec.
As for the reinforcements offered to vulnerable students, the Minister recalls that in 2021-2022, more than 169,000 students benefited from the tutoring program. This year, students will be able to benefit from additional educational support thanks to an investment of more than $73 million in this national program.
The Minister also mentions that bureaucratic relief has made it possible to free up thousands of hours among professionals which, he says, will bear fruit in the short and long term.
He points out that the School Well-Being and Educational Support Strategy provides an envelope of $19 million devoted to the mental health and well-being of schoolchildren.
Work done for air quality
With regard to the health security of schools, Minister Roberge recalls that wearing a surgical mask will not be compulsory and that sports, extracurricular and inter-school activities may take place. The Ministry of Education has a reserve of masks if Public Health were to request their return to schools.
On the other hand, 14 million self-tests for COVID-19 will be distributed.
Jean-François Roberge says that all school service centers and school boards took advantage of the summer to carry out work to improve air quality in their establishments. He claims that between July 2020 and next December, some $500 million will have been invested in school ventilation.
However, Liberal Party (PLQ) education critic Marwah Rizqy said Minister Roberge’s school ventilation initiatives did not go far enough. The MNA for Saint-Laurent proposed Bill 995 three months ago, which aims to guarantee a safe environment conducive to the academic success of students.
Blur for school transport
Regarding school transport, the impasse persists. The government appointed negotiator Claude Sauvageau on Wednesday, who summoned the representatives of the carriers for a sprint of negotiations.
Several student transportation contracts ended on June 30, and renewals are slow to be concluded due to factors such as inflation, which affects business operating costs and labor shortages. Breaks in service are envisaged in certain regions and the Fédération des centers de services scolaire du Québec (FCSSQ) is considering deploying contingency measures.
The Federation of Public Service Employees (FEESP), affiliated with the CSN, which represents thousands of school bus drivers, reports that they are demanding an increase of $ 7,000 per circuit, only for wages, through an envelope dedicated exclusively to compensation. The average salary for drivers is currently $20,000 per year.