(Quebec) Bernard Drainville wants to obtain “a more precise portrait” of the phenomenon of violence which is growing in schools. Over the coming months, school administrators will record violent and intimidating events that take place in their establishments. This information will then be provided to Quebec, which will compile the data.
The Minister of Education presented his plan for preventing violence and bullying in schools on Friday. Promised last March, this new government strategy includes measures amounting to 30 million over five years. However, this is not new money, these sums having already been reserved in the budget.
Mr. Drainville’s plan is divided into four areas: documenting violence in schools, training students and school staff, raising awareness and supporting school teams in the face of this growing phenomenon.
First, Quebec is improving the compulsory education that will be given to students regarding violence and mental health. The minister plans between seven and nine hours of teaching on these subjects per year for primary and secondary students. A ministerial directive, which will specify this addition, will be sent to the network in the coming months. Teachers and school staff will also be trained on “the most effective preventive actions and interventions” that can be deployed.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security, various programs will also be enhanced, notably the “Renfort” helpline and support line, created last June by the City of Montreal, which allows school staff and loved ones to children exhibiting violent behaviors to get support regarding gun violence. The delinquency prevention program through sport, arts and culture, which aims to offer activities to young people who may fall into delinquency and street gangs, will also be enhanced.
“The plan also provides for the hiring of a professional resource per school service center or per school board as well as in the private network. This resource will be responsible for coordinating actions arising from the plan and will work both to prevent violence and to promote mental health and well-being,” it is also specified in Quebec. An emergency protocol in the event of major violent events will also be implemented in each school.
A growing phenomenon
Violence in schools has increased in recent years. Earlier this month, four young men were arrested in Montérégie as a video circulated on the internet showing a teenager kneeling in front of his attackers being punched at least three times in the face.
Also on the South Shore of Montreal, an altercation involving 100 students on school grounds forced the intervention of the police at the beginning of October.
Violence against school staff is also increasing. According to data obtained by The Press According to the CNESST, the number of injuries linked to violence against teachers increased by 64% between 2018 and 2022.
In Quebec, the subject of violence in schools has been raised several times over the past year in Parliament. “From east to west, it happens. Something has happened: there is a before and after pandemic,” said liberal MP Marwah Rizqy in June, who calls on the government to make the prevention of violence a “national cause”.