Where is education in this election campaign? This is the question that directors and administrative managers of schools, as well as parents, ask political parties. While there is a shortage of staff, school dropouts and several buildings falling into ruin, they deplore the lack of space taken up by education and a lack of “serious commitments” from the parties.
“Education in this election campaign is practically invisible, and it is not normal that it is not more in the foreground”, launched Nicolas Prévost, president of the Quebec Federation of establishment directors. teaching (FQDE), during a press conference on Friday morning.
“There are very few serious commitments in education by political parties,” added Kathleen Legault, president of the Montreal Association of School Principals (AMDES). I call on the leaders of the political parties to share their vision with us and make concrete commitments. »
Shortage of staff
The education community is facing several challenges, including a lack of teachers, remedial teachers, psychoeducators, speech therapists and educators for daycare services. “In many schools, the ratios are not respected [pour les services de garde], it’s difficult, said Carl Ouellet, president of the Quebec Association of School Management Staff (AQPDE). Some schools have had to ask parents to bring their children home.
According to Nicolas Prévost, the free surveillance service at noon and other measures have an impact on families’ wallets “and that’s a very good thing”. “But we are not tackling the basic problem”, which is the lack of personnel, he decides.
The Regroupement des Comités de Parents Autonomes du Québec (RCPAQ) adds that the money is invested “in piecemeal scoops” and that “no one seems to have an overview of education. “It’s more than sad, it’s worrying,” said spokesperson Sylvain Martel.
Have the Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, and the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) done a good job in the past four years? “In many cases, we have not seen any major changes” and the staff shortage “has worsened”, thinks Kathleen Legault, who nevertheless recognizes that the pandemic could have slowed things down.
Having the same minister for four years was a good thing in terms of stability, adds Nicolas Prévost. If he appreciated “the listening” of the minister, he nevertheless criticizes Jean-François Roberge “for having a small side with rose-colored glasses” and for not always depicting the reality of the environment.