Montreal, March 15, 2022 – The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) is pleased that the government of Québec is prepared to welcome Ukrainian refugees “with open arms”, and English school boards are ready to do their part.
The QESBA is asking that the government of Québec consider offering humanitarian exemptions to some young Ukrainians arriving in Québec, where appropriate, giving them the opportunity to attend English public school.
“René Levesque and Camil Laurin ensured that there was a humanitarian clause for education in the English system in the Charter of the French language and this is a prime example of the use for such a provision,” said the President Dan Lamoureux.
“Some of these children undoubtedly have English as their second language and have already been through so much. The nine English school boards encourage the government to show compassion and let some of them attend our schools, on humanitarian grounds, where they will learn both French and English,” concluded the President.
QESBA is the voice of English public education in Québec and represents 100,000 students in over 300 elementary, high schools, and adult and vocational centres across Québec.