QESBA calls on party leaders to address its top 10 priorities
for the future of education in Quebec
Montreal, September 17, 2026 – The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) is deeply concerned that public education has been largely absent from the provincial election campaign. Tuesday’s first leaders’ debate focused on the economy, sovereignty, French and immigration, but offered almost no substantive discussion of education.
Education is one of the Quebec government’s largest responsibilities and directly affects nearly every family in the province. Voters deserve clear commitments on how each party will address the challenges facing students, schools and centres.
“Education is not a secondary issue. It is central to Quebec’s social, cultural and economic future,” said QESBA President Joe Ortona. “Families deserve to know how those seeking to govern Quebec will strengthen public schools, support school staff, improve services and give every student the opportunity to thrive.”
Quebec’s public education system faces well-documented pressures, including shortages of qualified staff, aging infrastructure, growing demand for specialized services, student mental health and well-being needs, and strain on resources. These challenges require clear commitments and sustained attention throughout the campaign.
QESBA has provided party leaders with its top 10 priorities for the future of education in Quebec. The Association is asking each leader to state clearly how their party will address them.
“There can be no credible conversation about Quebec’s future without education,” Ortona added. “The students in our classrooms today will be the citizens, workers and leaders shaping Quebec tomorrow.”
QESBA is calling on party leaders to respond to these priorities and on the organizers of the remaining debates to give public education the serious attention it warrants before Quebecers vote on October 5.
Students and public education cannot be treated as afterthoughts. Quebecers deserve a clear debate about the future of their education system.
The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) is the voice of English-language public education in Quebec, representing approximately 100,000 students across more than 300 elementary and secondary schools, as well as adult education and vocational training centres throughout the province.
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