Organizations are concerned about “unacceptable compressions” in education in Quebec

Organizations of the Education Network – ranging from a coalition of parents’ committees to management of educational establishments, school staff and unions – urge Quebec to end the announced “compressions”.

In a press release shared on Thursday. Similarly, the regrouping Together, united for school say Indignant by the unacceptable compressions in education that the government tries in vain to minimize with the help of accounting creativity.

Government order placed to school departments is to reduce their expenses by $ 570 million.

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Although the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, asked them to receive direct services as much as possible to students, these groups argue that this will be impossible, given the extent of the reductions requested.

The Ministry of Education plays on words to give the impression that it limits the damage to this one amount. However. Moreover, in fact, they will be much superior, in particular because inflation has not even been covered by the ministry’s subsidiessupports the grouping.

The cabinet of Bernard Drainville defends itself to impose compressions on the education network.

The budget announced in March remains the same, i.e. In addition, $ 23.5 billion, but Quebec is launching a warning to schools: there is no question of doing budgetary exceeding next year. Meanwhile, If the expenses were continued at the same rate for the next year. However, the public school network would exceed $ 357 million this budget [pour l’année financière qui se termine au 31 mars 2026]indicates the cabinet.

The latter adds having invested a lot in education, raising the budget of 58 % in the last six years. In addition, But After all this catch -up, we must now consolidate our investmentswe explain.

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The student service will be assigned. In addition, assures the school network – Organizations concerned about "unacceptable compressions"

Organizations that have sounded the alarm Thursday morning are categorical: it is clear that students will be assigned if Quebec does not see its plans, from school outings to books for the library, including parascolary activities and support for compulsory content (such as sexuality education).

[Avec ces mesures, ce sont des] hundreds of your [technicien en éducation spécialisée] less. In addition, organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” They are less orthopedagogues in our schools. However, It is the non-embautical of professional staff, therefore no psychologist, psychoeducator. For example, We cut in the secretariat, in the concierge, in food aid, in cultural outings. However, And that. In addition, we don’t even reach a quarter of the budgetary effort that is askedexplains Nicolas Prévost, director of the FQDE.

We do not want to be alarmist. pessimistic, but reality, the facts are such that unfortunately we cannot be optimistic with the start of the school year.

Equally concerned about things, André Bernier, director of the primary school of the Bourg-Royal-et-du-Châtelet and vice-president of theAQPDEeven less explains that Quebec shared its directives so late.

These are decisions that should have been made before to have time to look at the complete structure.

There. we are at midnight and five – and not midnight less – to make changes where there are very few quarters of employment that can be affected because the assignments are already made.

It does not allow us to have complete gymnastics, because the weather is too shortcontinues Mr. Bernier.

Having 25 years of work in management. deputy school management behind organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” the tie, André Bernier claims to have absolutely never seen from such draconian budgetary measures, and it ensures that we are in another dimension Compared to the measures taken in the past.

We have already had periods of austerity, but it was cosmetic compared to what we live theresays André Bernier. They were small cuts where. in the internal budgets of the school, we were able to cut what we had to cut without it appearing in the student service.

Back to school apprehended

In view of the start of the school year. André Bernier is already apprehending from all out of all parts, and more particularly parents.

We know that parents will not be happy with the service that will be offered. All this will fall on organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” the teachers, then will fall on the shoulders of the directions …he says.

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In anticipation of this phenomenon. André Bernier has, jointly with the other members member of theAQPDE of the school service center of the organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” first seigneuries, sent a letter to the parents of their CSS in order to tell them about the extremely worrying situation to which they face.

It is inconceivable for us. who work daily in the development and success of each student, to see education being so charged.

We want to assure you that. despite this difficult situation, we will do everything to support your children and best meet their needswe add in this letter. However. we cannot ignore the fact that ministerial decisions greatly harm the development of your organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” children as well as the well-being of the staff.

In conclusion, the letter calls on parents to support their steps and to demonstrate their disagreements.

Parents react

Parents have also raised their hands to express their concerns. even their frustrations, faced with recent government announcements.

This is the case of Chantal Serafini. parent of a student who, with another student parent, co-organizes a march which will be held Thursday afternoon in Montreal.

In interview with A whole morningthis mother denounces that we cut where there are no more fats to cut. where there is no more flesh on the bones.

Interview with Chantal Serafini: walking against education cuts

ENGINE MAI FIRSTA whole morning

We see how much schools do a lot with not much.. We want to show that we support them. But above all, we want to show children that we are fighting for their future.

The latter also hopes to be able to make this walk a weekly demonstration, as long as the government’s plans will not be changed.

A march of the same kind will also be held in Quebec on Thursday, and in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu on July 9.

Drainville : Never a government has invested organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” so much. so quickly, for our schools

The Minister of Education of Quebec, Bernard Drainville, persists and signs in a declaration on his social networks Thursday afternoon, wishing at the same time recall the facts.

Whoever is also a deputy of Lévis invites all those who speak of “cuts” to look. at the figures rather than the slogans. To illustrate his words. he repeated that the budget of the Ministry of Education increased by 58 % since the CAQ is in power – It is much more than inflation! – and that Since 2018, investment in education has increased on average by 7 % per year.

After liberal austerity. we organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” carried out more than necessary work. Today, we must respect the Quebecer’s portfolio and make responsible choices.

Getting over the budgets granted by the State cannot become a habitadds the minister.

He concludes: School service centers will have to make choices. It is a change of culture and we will accompany them in there. Above all, my compass remains the same: the interest of our children.

Oppositions criticize the government

The political class reacted to the budgetary restrictions announced by Quebec.

The new official opposition head. Marwah Rizqy, strongly criticized the attitude of the government during an interview with Mathieu Belhumeur, on the program Midi Info.

Education cuts: interview with Marwah Rizqy

ENGINE MAI FIRSTMidi info

Our social elevator is school is education. And if our children have not only food aid but also professional supporters […]we do not help educational success. on the contrary: we are in the process of defeating years and years of effort to ensure that we are retreating on dropping out of school in Quebechas launched the deputy of Saint-Laurent.

The government has a legal obligation in education. It is for all students in Quebec, even those who have a learning difficulty. We have to give them organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” even more support.

It is perhaps a government that says he is an accountant, but I was a tax system before being a politician, and if my service costs and the number of students increase, then necessarily I have to increase my budgets to succeedshe thinks.

Marwah Rizqy also finds a certain hypocrisy to the fact that the objective of reducing government expenses. half a billion dollars, is equivalent Dollar for dollar to the immense loss in the Saaqclic fiasco. The cost exceeding of the CASA project, which includes, among other things, the SAAQCLIC platform, were estimated at around $ 500 million.

As for Québec Solidaire. it was announced that the co-spokesman Ruba Ghazal would be present at the Marche planned in Montreal on Thursday. His colleague Sol Zanetti, he will organizations concerned about “unacceptable compressions” participate in that of Quebec.

With information from Colin Côté-Paulette, Fannie Bussières McNicoll, all morning and the Canadian press