Under agreements in principle with teachers' unions, Quebec commits to providing the equivalent of 4,000 full-time classroom assistants across its preschool and primary school network. This measure will significantly reduce the burden on teachers in difficult classes, say several experts.
According to the Fédération du personal de support scolaire (FPSS-CSQ), around 10,000 educators, mainly daycare employees who currently work part-time, could act as teaching assistants.
Per person it will be between 10 and 15 hours more, so job insecurity has been our priority and it will allow many people to get out of this insecurity and have a better income, reacted Éric Pronovost, President of the FPSS-CSQ.
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Éric Pronovost, President of the Federation of School Support Personnel, affiliated to the CSQ (archive photo)
Photo: FPSS-CSQ
Class helpers would have the title of school educator. They would not be involved in teaching or assessment tasks, but could supervise a class, help follow instructions and help organize activities.
[Ils vont] Help with crafts and school trips. This allows the teacher to better supervise and delegate the students [tâches] E.g. photocopies, trips through school or supporting needy students.
These people will be working on the front lines not only with the teachers, but especially with the children in the classroom. We [sera] more able to meet needs, Ms. Granger continued.
Already a pilot project
Teaching aids were already the subject of a pilot project that launched in 2022 at 200 schools in the province. The project then proved that the addition of these key people reduced the burden on teachers.
The teachers told us, “It helps me stay in my job, I'm a lot less tired and a lot more motivated to work in pairs.” And for the students, we see that there is actually a healthier classroom climate, noted Ms. Granger, which analyzed the results of the pilot project carried out since 2022 with 100 classroom assistants.
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Nancy Granger, Professor in the Faculty of Education, University of Sherbrooke
Photo: Radio-Canada
Former CSN President Claudette Carbonneau also welcomed this additional help for the class.
It will not replace speech therapists, special education teachers and specialist staff, but it will give a helping hand to teachers, especially in primary schools.
There has been a shortage of skilled workers and incredible inertia for so long! The employer must be aware that this involves costs and that they will have to train and employ workers. It is a measure against inertia, she said on ICI RDI.
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Claudette Carbonneau, former president of the CSN
Photo: Radio-Canada
Ms. Carbonneau also welcomes the other remedies included in the agreement in principle between the FAE and Quebec, in particular the proposal to relieve difficult classes by opening new groups of students, provided that teachers and premises are available.
If remedial action is not possible, the teacher could receive a bonus of up to $8,000 to teach more difficult classes.
It's not the premium that helps the quality [de l’enseignement]recognizes Ms. Carbonneau. [Mais] that there are special measures that are to be welcomed. It's a plus […] to make progress in education, because the situation has worsened in 20 years.
The basic agreements will be presented to both the FAE and the Common Front members from Monday. The general meetings last until mid-February.
With information from Jean-Philippe Hugues and Rose St-Pierre