Elementary and preschool teachers will have a budget of $300 next year for the purchase of books in their classes, Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced on Tuesday.
In a school in the Limoilou sector in Quebec, the elected official presented the details of a program of 55.6 million dollars over five years which aims to “value French”.
“Reading must be a national priority. […] and this is a first step” in this direction, asserted Mr. Drainville. Right now, teachers are buying the books “out of their personal funds, and that’s not normal,” he also said.
As of the next school year, elementary and preschool teachers will therefore be able to choose books, which will then be acquired by the librarians of school service centres. The measure targets 34,000 classes, and since the median price of a book is $17, the Minister estimates that each class will have 18 additional books on their shelves.
“You’re going to tell me: ’18 is not enough’, and you’re right, conceded Mr. Drainville. But the idea is not to keep the books in the classroom and they don’t move. We want them to be able to walk around the classrooms. »
The Caquiste minister said he wanted to give priority to Quebec books, in French, and on paper. “To hold a book, to feel it, to appropriate it, I am from that school. I think that to weave this bond of love between children and reading, the printed copy is more adequate, ”said the chosen one. “Now, I’m not dogmatic about it. […] But, priority to printed copies. »
In front of the children in Marie-Ève and Annabelle’s classes, Mr. Drainville said he took the “bet” that “the level of French will improve”, among other things thanks to this measure. He recalled that improving the learning of French is one of the seven priorities he has targeted for his mandate.
“The sooner you read [les élèves], the better their chances of academic success,” said the minister. “Teachers say: ‘if you make the books available, at some point, you’re going to steal [la] curiosity [des élèves]. So I trust them. »