The $300 million catch-up plan provides support for students who were affected by the various days of walkout. Schools will be able to organize catch-up activities during spring break, students will have access to additional tutoring measures and free summer courses will be offered.
The minister plans that teachers, retired teachers or teaching students will offer these services, on a voluntary and paid basis.
Contacted by La Tribune on Tuesday morning, the president of the Estrie Education Union (SEE), Richard Bergevin, viewed this plan favorably. “We often criticize the government, but my first reaction is positive. There are substantial amounts invested in catch-up activities. The teachers who will participate will be on a voluntary basis.
Adequate remuneration and voluntary involvement are essential for Mr. Bergevin. “It is necessary that the [enseignants] are well paid and that we maintain the notion of volunteering. You should also not overload certain teachers. As long as it is on a voluntary basis and the teachers will be paid for the time they work, we welcome the project.”
At first glance, the president of the Union of Education Professionals of Estrie (SPPEE-CSQ), Martin Côté, also sees the announced measures positively. “It’s positive to see that there is concern from the government. […] It’ll take the pressure off a little.”
Catch-up plan timeline
Over the next two weeks, schools will have to identify students who need additional help and their parents will have to be notified by the end of January.
“We will not go wall-to-wall, the needs are different from one school to another, from one service center to another,” indicated Minister Bernard Drainville, adding that these are the schools who are best placed to assess student needs.
Difficulties in offering catch-up activities could arise in smaller settings, according to Mr. Bergevin. “I think it’s quite realistic that people can mobilize. For the moment, we haven’t had much feedback from teachers, because [le plan] has just been announced. […] My fears are perhaps for smaller schools. We know that in Estrie, if we leave Sherbrooke, there are sometimes three or four teachers in the school. It is perhaps in these environments that it will be more difficult because we may have environments where there will be no volunteers.
Thanks to the amounts granted by the government, Mr. Bergevin believes that adequate services can be put in place to catch up in Estrie. “For us, the students missed eight days,” he recalls. It’s not the same global issue as other environments.”
School service centers and school principals “will have the necessary latitude and will be responsible for determining the means they will put in place with school teams to help students catch up,” according to Mr. Drainville.
Students with special needs
Schools will have to put in place specialized support measures for students with special needs.
Depending on the choice of means put in place by schools and school service centers, “this help could be given outside of class hours, by specialized staff, to small groups of students who have the same difficulties “.
Thus, organizations working to combat dropout, school perseverance and literacy will be able to benefit from funds to help students in difficulty. Additional reception and support services will also be put in place to enable immigrant students to learn French.
Free summer courses will be offered to Secondary 4 and 5 students in subjects for which tests are required.
The minister indicated that the timetable for the ministerial tests will be adjusted, but that there will be no exams after June 23.
2024-01-09 18:11:10
#Education #positive #reception #catchup #plan #Estrie
