Despite the millions of investments, the catch-up plan presented by Quebec after the strike fails. In some schools, no teachers volunteered to participate.
• Also read: Admission to CEGEP: a grace period for public students
In early January, Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced a $300 million catch-up plan to allow students to catch up on academic delays caused by the strike, some of whom had previously missed up to five weeks of school over the holidays.
This plan is essentially based on the voluntary participation of teachers who are offered overtime pay for participating in recreational activities, especially outside of class hours.
No volunteers
However, according to an internal survey by the Fédération québécoise des Directions d'Establishment d'Enseignement (FQDE), which involved around 140 members, no teacher in certain schools raised their hand to participate.
Even if this study is anything but scientific, its president, Nicolas Prévost, points out that it corresponds to the echoes that can be heard in practice, where the situation varies greatly from school to school.
In some institutions there are more volunteer teachers than necessary, but in others very few or no teachers have responded to the call.
“In general it is more negative than positive,” says Mr Prévost. What is certain is that unfortunately there are students who are not offered any relief, at least in the short term,” he says.
It is not ruled out that student teachers will be able to get their hands dirty from the end of April, when their lecture period is over, but the priority will be on filling vacant positions, adds the President of the FQDE.
It is difficult to recruit skilled workers
The catch-up plan also includes additional funding to offer special services to struggling students, but recruiting skilled workers remains a major challenge.
Even if the money is there, “it is extremely difficult to find people to provide the services,” says Nicolas Prévost.
During the school day
Catch-up demand will also occur mainly during the school day, during class hours or during lunch breaks, as very few schools organize recreational activities at the end of the day, on weekends or during the week. Publication, according to the survey conducted by the FQDE.
The Montreal Association of School Directors also points out that it is a “variable geometry” because there is a shortage of volunteer teachers in certain areas. You will then have to contact other employees.
“Are we really going to find resources for all students (who need them)? It’s hard to say at the moment,” says its president Kathleen Legault.
Mixed reception
The catch-up plan is well received in the school network, especially due to its great flexibility, but the reactions among teachers are more mixed.
Teachers want to give their students an extra helping hand and the prospect of making more money after weeks of strike without pay should not be neglected, according to comments collected by Le Journal from teachers.
However, others believe that taking part in this additional effort would be completely at odds with the demands expressed during the strike, while the workload of teachers on the picket lines has been denounced on several occasions.
For its part, the Autonomous Education Federation preferred not to comment on the situation, preferring to wait until it has a more complete picture before making a decision.
The catch-up plan coming soon
According to the school management, two central measures of the catch-up plan will be difficult to implement in certain schools due to the lack of participating teachers and staff:
- Tutoring during class time
- Specialized help for students in difficulty
The plan also calls for the following:
- Two-week postponement of the 2nd stage bulletin
- Easier ministerial exams (reduced weighting and content)
- More resources for community organizations
- Free summer courses
Total: $300 million
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.