If the Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE) teachers’ strike continues next week, Quebec should consider changing the school calendar to resume missed school days, particularly by foregoing the spring break scheduled for March.
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At least that’s what Nicolas Prévost, president of the Fédération québécoise des Directions d’establishment d’enseignement, which represents the majority of school principals in the province, says.
“This week it is still playable, but if it continues next week it will take many days. (…) We really need to think seriously about what we are going to do with the school calendar,” says Mr Prévost, who recalls that the law provides for 180 compulsory teaching days per school year.
“You have to be a little consistent. We can’t say the student is important and let them miss so many days of school,” he said.
Since Thursday, all FAE teachers have been on an indefinite general strike, affecting 40% of public schools in the province.
However, the affected students have not had classes since November 21 due to one-day strikes by the Common Front, which led to the closure of all public schools for three days last week.
Spring break in sight
Skipping the spring break scheduled for March could be the “easiest” option to consider, Mr. Prévost added.
It would be difficult to extend the school year until June as the end-of-year ministerial exams are held at the same time every year for all students at the same level.
However, private school students are not affected by the strikes and those whose teachers are represented by the Common Front are currently in school.
When asked about the issue in the corridors of the National Assembly yesterday, Education Minister Bernard Drainville reiterated that he was “considering” the issue.
“It’s too early, but you can’t keep cutting school time and thinking that students are learning everything there is to learn,” he said.
Fewer storm holidays?
About ten days ago, Education Minister Bernard Drainville did not rule out the possibility of extending the school calendar in order to be able to resume school days canceled due to the strike if the conflict lasted longer.
His office had made it clear to our parliamentary office that it was “logical” that the days taken were educational days, which are generally reserved for cases of force majeure, such as snowstorms.
“It depends on local agreements, but it is actually a possible path.” It is the responsibility of the school service centers to work with local unions and educational institutions,” it said.
In collaboration with Geneviève Lajoie.
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