Association identifies the priorities needed to strengthen student success, equity and educational pathways
Montreal, September 10, 2026 – The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) is calling on all political parties to commit to a clear, long-term plan that places student success, equity and access to education at the centre of the next government’s mandate.
Quebec’s schools need practical solutions: safe, inclusive learning environments, qualified staff, timely specialized services, modern facilities, accessible educational pathways, and stable, predictable funding. These priorities must take precedence over further restrictive measures on language, governance, or secularism.
“Education is not simply an election issue. It is one of government’s most important responsibilities and one of Quebec’s most significant investments in its future,” said QESBA President Joe Ortona. “The test for every proposal should be straightforward: will it improve students’ learning, well-being and opportunities?”
Schools are increasingly asked to respond to challenges related to mental health, poverty, family instability and social integration. They are essential partners but cannot replace health and social services. New responsibilities must have a clear educational purpose and be accompanied by sustainable resources. Students with exceptionalities require earlier assessment, timely access to qualified professionals and smooth transitions throughout their education.
Aging buildings, overcrowding and construction delays affect learning and safety, while shortages of teachers, professionals and support staff increase workloads and delay intervention. Quebec needs sustained investment in infrastructure, recruitment, retention and professional development, particularly in rural and regional communities. Funding must be timely, stable and multi-year, allowing boards to plan staffing and protect programs rather than reacting to rules that arrive late or change mid-year. Quebec should also make full use of available federal funding for minority-language education.
The English public network remains a committed partner in strengthening French-language proficiency, a responsibility that must be shared across the English and French systems. This includes safeguarding English adult education and vocational training centres, which provide essential pathways to graduation, employment and economic participation.
Locally elected English school boards are best placed to respond to the linguistic, cultural and regional realities of their communities. Upholding the English-speaking community’s constitutionally protected right to manage its institutions ensures accountable local decision-making. Reporting requirements should be proportionate and outcome-based, freeing school leaders to focus on students and staff.
QESBA is renewing its call for a comprehensive Estates General on education early in the next mandate, building on its 2024 CARE Conference. “Education policy cannot continue to be developed one bill, one budget, and one political crisis at a time,” said Ortona. “Quebec needs an independent, inclusive, and evidence-based process that begins with students’ needs and leads to a long-term vision for public education.”
Recent research, including studies presented at the 2026 ACFAS conference, has documented disparities in student well-being and access to postsecondary education. Quebec’s three-tier system of regular public, selective public and private schools should be examined as part of this process, alongside staffing, funding, infrastructure and regional realities. The process must include students, parents, educators, elected school commissioners, Indigenous partners and minority-language communities, with the English-speaking community’s constitutional rights fully respected from the outset.
QESBA is the voice of English-language public education in Québec, 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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