Investigation of Dawson and Vanier colleges: the law on secularism not respected

Prayer rooms. However, leaflets for religious festivals and religious clubs of students causing tensions between clans: the law on secularism is not always respected in Dawson college and Vanier college, which stirs up animosity in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This is one of the observations drawn up by the investigators of the Ministry of Higher Education (MES). Meanwhile, who recommend a screw tour in favor of the religious neutrality of public institutions without however blaming the two educational establishments for their management.

Our parliamentary office got their hands on the report commissioned by Minister Pascale Déry targeting the two English -speaking CEGEs in the wake of tensions between the Jewish. Similarly, Muslim communities on the campuses. Meanwhile, An investigation strongly criticized by teachers and departments, which denounced an attack on academic freedom.

“The Dawson college has two prayer rooms: investigation dawson vanier colleges: law one for Muslim students and one for Jewish students. Therefore, The Vanier college has a prayer room fitted out for Muslim students who includes a sink for ablutions. However, a separator curtain so that women and men do not pray together, “underline the MES bloodhounds in the document of just over 70 pages.

And this situation is not exclusive to these two institutions. Other establishments. such as the Cégeps de Sainte-Foy and Garneau, in Quebec, also develop prayer premises during the Ramadan period.

Even if college institutions are not targeted by the directive prohibiting prayer premises. investigators believe that their presence can be seen as a privilege that can facilitate radicalization and proselytism.

“In the current socio-political context, it accentuates tensions and makes it difficult to live together, can be read. In a public college and in a secular society, we must question the relevance of a prayer room. ”

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Religious accommodation

Dawson. Vanier both have procedures to accommodate students wishing to be absent from a course due to a religious holiday, which are not penalized. Furthermore, teachers are required to avoid exams during Jewish or Muslim religious holidays.

Investigators also recommend modifying the law to better supervise militant. religious student clubs in the two CEGEPs, which caused strong tensions recently between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israelis groups.

The sale of keffiehs. this black and white checkered scarf emblematic of the Palestinian cause, takes place every Wednesday at the Dawson college, illustrate the investigators. In Vanier, a Palestinian student association invites young people to wear clothing and sells “Long Live the Intifada” stickers.

French Tout-Tout Courses

The French lessons offered in these two English -speaking establishments take as many forms as there are teachers to give them. the investigators noted.

In Dawson, one of the courses offered in the language of Molière investigation dawson vanier colleges: law is called “Palestinian affiliations”. But under current educational objectives that are not very explicit, it is quite possible. “It is up to the MES to review the skill statement of this course and. possibly, to enhance the requirements for a college language course,” said the authors of the report.

Recall that Minister Déry was accused of interference after intervening personally with management about this course. An analysis has concluded that no law had been infringement.

Clans between teachers

Academic freedom is not interpreted in the same way by all. which causes tension and the formation of “clans between the teachers” about the speakers invited on the campuses.

Investigators underline that the colleges have implemented the appropriate security measures during the symposiums. but that the themes addressed are “polarizing” and that a law should be adopted to supervise academic freedom in the college education network, as was the case at university.

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Called to comment, the Minister of Higher Education considers that the report is worrying.

“He highlights a series of failures that have deeply undermined the climate in the two colleges. nourished tensions and weakened living together. As a government, we cannot tolerate that our campuses become the theater of divisions, ”she said in a written declaration.