A week after requesting cancellation, the Liberals are now applauding Cégep Garneau’s “English Week”.
• Also read: “English Week” at CEGEP: “I will not rebel,” says Roberge, in contrast to Legault
• Also read: “English Week”: Déry and Legault are right
• Also read: “English Week” in Garneau: a storm in a teacup
“The position [du parti], it is very clear. “It is important to recognize the value of theme weeks,” Marc Tanguay said at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday.
The interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party then answered questions about his political party’s change of course in connection with the controversial English Week organized by Garneau CEGEP.
Last week, MP André Fortin was quick to express insults at the existence of this themed week and even called for its outright cancellation.
“It is important to teach English in our courses, in a framework as it should be, but Cégep Garneau’s decision to ask everyone to speak in English for a week at CEGEP is not advisable for us.” That’s why “We call on CEGEP to reverse its decision,” he said.
- Listen to the interview with Marie-Anne Alepin, President General of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal, on the microphone of Sophie Durocher QUB radio :
But water has since flowed under the bridge, and her D’Arcy-McGee colleague Elisabeth Prass posted a message on social media on Monday advocating for themed weeks like English Week.
“In response to the “English Week” proposed at Cégep Garneau, I echo the words of my colleague and official opposition spokesman for higher education, namely that the Quebec Liberal Party supports the organization of thematic weeks aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of students to improve,” she wrote.
How can such a change of direction within a few days be explained? To this question, Marc Tanguay replied that his colleague André Fortin’s first reaction was emotional.
“When we received this news, our first instinct was obviously to be worried,” he explained. “According to the latest study, 52% of our Secondary 5 graduates fail the spelling bee. So you have to be vigilant at all times.”
- Listen to the political meeting with Yasmine Abdelfadel and Marc-André Leclerc QUB radio :
But when the dust settled, new information pushed the Liberal caucus forward. “I personally had the opportunity to find out, as did the team. Cégep Garneau will do a week of French-language literature and a week of philosophy. As a learning tool, theme weeks are a great opportunity to acquire knowledge,” said the party’s interim chairman.
“Now the week is over, after the team meeting we have a clear position that is shared by everyone,” concluded Marc Tanguay.
The Liberals thus agree with the position of the Minister for French Language, Jean-François Roberge. Mr Roberge refused to take offense, arguing last week that the existence of an English week in a French-language CEGEP would only be problematic if there were not other thematic weeks on other topics.
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