Montreal, December 4, 2015 – Disappointed with the lack of collaboration and dialogue on the draft bill on education reform deposited by François Blais today in the National Assembly, The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) announced that it will take several days to analyze the draft legislation before providing a formal response.
As QESBA has emphasized since the spring, the bill must meet two main criteria; it must lead to increased student success and; must meet the constitutional requirements under section 23 respecting that the English-speaking minority community retain the management and control of our education institutions. At first glance the draft legislation does not meet the QESBA’s criteria
“The Jennings Committee, which was sponsored by English Parents’ Community Association (EPCA), the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) and the Quebec Federation of Home and School (QFHSA) and ourselves and met with community groups and leaders from across the province, came out strongly for universal suffrage while making recommendations on how to strengthen the voice of parents within the school system and to increase voter participation,” said QESBA President Jennifer Maccarone. “We made suggestions to the Minister, which he seems to have ignored.”
The English public system in Quebec currently holds an 85% published success rate, our boards are extremely successful in ensuring that success rate and that every student has the chance to fully succeed. “Making substantive changes for political appearances is not acceptable for our students or our community,” noted Ms. Maccarone.
“We are extremely disappointed,” she continued, “with the lack of dialogue and consultation by the Minister with our community on this very important file. Our education institutions belong to our entire community, they ensure a healthy and viable future in this province for all English-speaking Quebecers.”
QESBA is the voice of English public education in Quebec.