The Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, does not rule out the possibility of extending the school calendar in order to resume school days missed due to the strike, if the conflict continues.
The decision has not yet been made and will depend on the duration of the strike, indicated Mr. Drainville on the sidelines of a press briefing at Laval University on Thursday morning.
“We cannot rule it out,” he said. Even in a situation of negotiation, of renewal of the employment contract, we must not forget what we are there for, we are there for the children, to ensure the academic success of our children. It is them that we must think of first. It is certain that this question could arise, but let’s wait to see firstly if there is a strike and secondly, the duration of the strike.
The minister recalled that the school calendar provides for 180 school days and 20 educational days.
No break for students?
Mr. Drainville also hopes that this forced leave will not turn into “slack” and invites teachers to provide work to be done at home for their students.
I hope that school principals, school service centers, teachers will give school materials to children so that they can continue, just a little, their learning. But it must not become a week off,” he said.
The 65,000 teachers of the Autonomous Education Federation plan to launch an indefinite general strike from November 23. They are present in more than 40% of schools in the province, including those in Montreal, Quebec, Laval and Outaouais.
The other teachers are members of the Common Front and will be on strike, along with support staff and professionals in the school network, on November 21, 22 and 23. All public schools in the province will then be closed.
More details to come.