The pandemic has clouded the perception of the future of Quebec students. So much so that a third of them have considered dropping out of school in the past two years. But they weathered the crisis with resilience and optimism, a Leger poll reveals.
Posted at 8:00 a.m.
Almost half (47%) of students aged 15-22 say their perception of the future has been affected by the pandemic. A third (32%) have even considered leaving the school benches. But the students have shown resilience, while a large majority (77%) “see their future with optimism”.
The Léger survey conducted for the Quebec Network for Educational Success (RQRE) aimed to measure the degree of motivation of young Quebecers and their confidence in the future, as the School Perseverance Days approach, which will place from February 14 to 18.
Of the 500 respondents, 81% say they feel “competent and capable of succeeding in terms of the academic goals they have set themselves”. Asked about their school performance, 78% say they are “satisfied with their school results”.
“Encouraging portrait”
“The general portrait of the survey is encouraging. Young people in school seem resilient and confident about their future, but let’s remain vigilant since we know that the situation is currently difficult for young people, especially the oldest,” said RQRE Director General Audrey McKinnon in a press release. hurry.
However, half of the respondents believe that society “does not do enough” to promote school perseverance. This proportion is more pronounced (64%) among students who do not feel motivated in relation to their studies.
“Some results are worrying and remind us that we must not let go of what we are already doing collectively. As a society, we must encourage, recognize and celebrate our young people, the adults around them and the various successes,” says RQRE president Annie Grand-Mourcel.
The environment, a key factor
Among the most important motivating factors, 89% of students mention being surrounded by “at least one person who has a positive influence on their school career”.
This positive influence can be a parent (57%), a teacher (37%), a friend (33%) or an adult in their close circle (29%). However, 1 in 10 young people (11%) indicate that they do not have a positive influence from those around them. This proportion rises to 17% among young people who answered that they do not feel motivated by their studies.
“The pandemic has been tough on many levels for student motivation and perseverance. I am very impressed by their ability to adapt and the sustained presence of those around them,” said the Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, in a press release.
“The survey data speaks volumes and shows us how far we still have to go to ensure that every young person feels supported,” said Minister of Higher Education Danielle McCann.