CEGEP students are angry with the Minister of Higher Education who still refuses to shorten the session despite the strike, which will force many to cut the working time on which they were counting to raise money.
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“For us, it’s shocking […] We see a lack of consideration for the students,” says Laurence Mallette-Léonard, president of the Fédération scolaire universitaire du Québec (FECQ).
Teachers from all public CEGEPs are currently on strike until Thursday, like the entire Common Front representing some 420,000 union members. Several CEGEPs will also be closed on Friday due to the addition of strike days by state professionals.
The FECQ had invited Pascale Déry, Minister of Higher Education, to authorize CEGEPs to shorten the fall session so that they do not have to complete the regulatory 82 days. However, she closed the door to this option.
Several establishments have therefore drawn up a revised calendar which allows the session to be completed before December 23, but by condensing it to evenings, weekends and the week before Christmas. In some cases, activities could take place in early January.
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Financial insecurity
However, many students had already planned to return to their families or travel at that time. Many also planned to work to raise money to cover the cost of living.
“This resumption of classes risks leading to financial insecurity which could last for the entire next session,” warns Mme Briefcase-Leonard.
At the Cégep de Sainte-Foy, the reshuffling of the calendar was not very well received, admits Alexandre Bilodeau, mobilization coordinator for the Student Association of the Cégep de Sainte-Foy.
“There are some who will shorten their vacation, who will adapt. There are others who decide that it is more important to have a life outside of CEGEP and who will cancel certain attendances,” he reports.
“There were people who came to cry in our premises,” admits Aude Lavallée, president of the General Association of Students of the Cégep de Sorel-Tracy, who at least had the chance to be consulted by management at all stages of the calendar reshuffle.
Case by case
Fortunately, many students managed to make arrangements with their teachers to limit the consequences.
This is the case of Noémie Picard, 19, who studies at Cégep de Granby. Everything suggests that she will be able to go to Florida and Costa Rica next week, as she had planned.
That said, for many courses, confusion reigns. She does not know if she will have a virtual exam to complete. She also has an exam due by Friday midnight, but still has not received the instructions, she worries. “We don’t know which foot to dance on.”
In Minister Déry’s office, it is confirmed that the decision not to shorten the session is maintained.