One parent in three no longer considers public school to be “free”, a consequence of the growing importance of special educational programs, estimates the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE).
This observation is taken from a survey commissioned by the union center from the Léger firm and revealed as part of the 15e Public school week launched Monday.
If public school looks good among the 1,001 respondents – 93% consider it accessible, 86% welcoming, 78% inclusive – only 62% of them consider it “free”.
A proportion which decreases even more when we isolate women (57%) and parents of students attending secondary school (58%).
“Parents are aware that they have to do more and more to fill certain gaps in the system,” laments the FAE’s vice-president for educational life, Annie Primeau.
She sees this in particular as a consequence of the so-called “three-speed” school system where public school coexists with schools with special educational projects (PPP), a “compromise” that is less expensive than private school.
Specific educational projects will have certain orientations which will make it possible to request certain fees from parents. Parents observe that free education is no longer part of school.
Annie Primeau, vice-president for educational life of the FAE
Although it is not opposed to the concept of PPPs, the FAE nevertheless says it “has issues” in terms of student selection, indicates Annie Primeau. This selection must be made “on the basis of motivation much more than on the basis of academic results” or if their parents have the means to enroll them.
More and more PPPs
These programs, such as sports-studies or art-studies concentrations, were targeted by the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, as the way forward to increase the attractiveness of public schools.
Quebec wants three-quarters of students who attend public secondary school to be in such a program at the start of the 2026 school year. Currently, this is the case for less than half (43.5%) of them, indicates- we say in the most recent annual management report of the Ministry of Education.
For the 2022-2023 school year, the Ministry of Education will reimburse up to $300 for fees charged to parents for their child’s participation in a PPP.
Thus, of the 166,862 high school students who registered last year, approximately 58% were able to do so for free. However, the parents of the remaining 41.8% had to pay more than $300.
“People are not necessarily fleeing public schools, but public classes [ordinaire]and are ready to pay to ensure that their children remain motivated,” underlines the spokesperson for the “I protect my public school” group, Patricia Clermont.
The allowance given by Quebec to help cover the costs imposed on parents, including those for school materials, has been increased by 20% since 2018, recalls the office of Minister Bernard Drainville.