François Legault is right when he says that this negotiation is “determining for the future of the health network and the education network.” We cannot agree without resolving the fundamental issues that affect our various services. It’s true!
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For example, in education, it is not a salary increase of 11, 12 or 13% that will solve the labor shortage.
It can help, but reading all the testimonies from teachers, this is not what will save our education system.
The situation is serious: 40% of classes are closed for an indefinite period! The rest will close on December 8.
These teachers are striking, without pay, for more than a salary increase!
We hear a lot about the unions and the government passing the buck, but unfortunately, we don’t hear enough from those on the ground.
Many of them wrote to me tired, exhausted by the task… but still ready to teach our youth!
If only we could hear them
So that we understand the extent of the problem, here is their cry from the heart which I hope will be heard:
“We are on the street mainly because of the composition of the groups and the lack of services for students,” a teacher wrote to me. I can’t wait until we stop talking about salaries.”
“My “regular” groups are 34 and 35. A third are on an intervention plan. Three or four are young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). […] I am unable to meet the needs of my students.”
“Out of 25 students, my group contains 17 young people who have an intervention plan and three students in francization.”
“In a class of 1D secondary school, there are five young people studying French, some of whom do not understand French, many students with attention deficit disorders with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), students who struggle to do exercises whose concepts are 5e primary year… all this mixed with students who understand very quickly and who find it a long time!”
“When you have a class of 26 students and 21 have special needs, it looks more like a special education class than a regular class!”
Let us not be surprised to see that barely 15% of students from public schools without a special program go to university, compared to 60% of young people from private schools.
Other problems
We also understand better why at least one teacher in five leaves the profession after only 5 years in the profession!
Let’s try to keep those who are in the network by offering classes that make sense!
Let them teach!
Let’s hire, with adequate salaries, housekeeping workers, special education technicians, speech therapists, psychologists… all essential players in a school!
The future of our system is currently at stake!