Students and teachers have been calling for a review of science and technology programs to make more room for environmental issues in schools, and an update of these programs is now officially planned by the end of the decade, according to information obtained by The duty.
Quebec wants to make primary and secondary school students more aware of “current issues”, notably climate change, but also the accelerated development of new technologies. The Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, made the announcement when he spoke Friday morning to teachers gathered at the annual congress of the Association for the Teaching of Science and Technology in Quebec ( AESTQ).
Young people and teachers will have to wait a few more years. Quebec is first completing the implementation of the new Quebec Culture and Citizenship (CCQ) course for next year. There will also be a review of the French, language of instruction program in 2025. The science and technology programs, which date from 2001 for primary and 2006 for secondary, will then be revised.
Elementary schools will have the choice to implement the new science and technology curriculum for the year 2026-2027. It will then be compulsory for the fall 2027 school year.
At the secondary level, the programs will be updated and implemented on an optional basis in 2028-2029. They will be mandatory from fall 2029.
Quebec is planning consultations for the primary level starting this fall, notably with stakeholders from the school network and university researchers. Consultations for secondary programs should begin in 2025.
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