Prime Minister François Legault rejects the denunciations of compressions made in the school network, even qualifying these “esoteric”, when school directions implore Quebec to retreat on potential devastating cuts.
“I find it incredible that we have this debate today. […] There is no cut, but an increase every year, including this year, “said Legault on Friday at a press conference held in Victoriaville, where he announced his candidate for the by -election in Arthabaska.
A little earlier, last week, The Quebec Journal revealed that a billion dollars will be due to nearly a billion dollars on the school network. In school service centers (CSS), this results in tens of millions of dollars. Since then, associations of schools and teachers have implored the government to intervene to avoid the worst.
Pique on the subject on the subject, the CAQ chief replied on Friday that his government has “increased education budgets by 58 %” for six years. “Never has a government have been close to this kind of increase. This is 7 % on average per year, ”he persisted.
“It is important that school service centers (CSS) respect their budget. If CSS have increased their expenses more than the budget increase has been given, it is certain that this year, they will have adjustments to make, “added Legault, not going further.
Repeating that the support of his government represents “unheard of” in Quebec, the Prime Minister then attacked it more directly to school departments. “” [L’éducation]it is one of my greatest pride, so I find it as a little esoteric that some people talk about cuts, “he said.
Debattus choices
A few days ago, the Montreal Association of School Establishment (AMDES) called the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, to “get up to defend the schools of Quebec” in the face of a government whose “capacity for managing public funds is questioned”.
The group then mentioned cuts in several sectors, including specialized educators, speech therapists and psychologists, but also extracurricular activities, summer courses and tutoring. Even food aid could be amputated at the start of the school year, according to some.
“It is irresponsible to bring public education the burden of your questionable expenses: hockey matches, empty batteries, poorly managed projects with cost exceedations that no one would have dared to offer or accept, etc. It is imperative that you will quickly be delighted, because our children will still pay the bill, “said the president of the Parents Committee of the Montreal schools, Knéka Coulibaly, in a statement on Friday.
In Montreal, CSS Marguerite-Bourgeoys has already announced that it will have to slash 54 million its budget, while the Laval School Service Center (CSSDL) will have to operate with 48 million less, which will have repercussions “on direct services to students”. At the CSS of Montreal, the shortfall would even be around $ 93 million.
Last week, Minister Drainville, he said that “difficult choices” were to come in schools, but added that he preferred to speak of “budgetary efforts” rather than cuts.
Mr. Drainville had also argued at this time that since 2018, the education budget has jumped 7 % per year, a situation which has become “unbearable” according to him.
With the collaboration of Marie-Eve Morass, The press
