Quebec wants to bring one of the most important private colleges in the province to heel. The financial management of the CDI College raises so many concerns that the file has been transferred to UPAC, our Investigation Office has learned.
According to our sources, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has contacted the administration of CDI College on several occasions in recent months.
This educational institution, which has five establishments in the Montreal region, welcomes many foreign students. It offers courses in French and English, particularly in computer science, administration and in the health sector.
Several administrative and educational failures would be blamed on CDI by Quebec, in particular:
- Irregularities were reportedly detected in the management of student tuition fees;
- Despite repeated requests, the college was reportedly slow to send its financial statements to the ministry;
- Some of the CDI students are not reported to the ministry. Some from abroad would not have signed an educational services contract;
- Teachers would not have a valid license to practice their profession.
License threatened
The situation is so serious that Quebec would consider revoking the CDI College license if a major shift is not taken quickly by the organization, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The government investigation into this establishment began in 2018, we learned, following numerous complaints from foreign students.
Inspectors from the Ministry of Education have uncovered enough disturbing evidence about the college’s financial management to have their final report transferred to the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) in recent weeks.
Responses requested
The Department of Education reportedly gave CDI College until mid-December to comply with ministerial requirements, our sources said.
The establishment refused to answer our questions and sent us the following statement:
“For decades, CDI College has offered educational programs in Quebec. In addition, he always seeks to improve them in order to meet the expectations of the job market, and this, in compliance with ministerial rules. […]. CDI College attaches particular importance to meeting ministerial requirements, while having at heart the success of its students to lead successful careers. “
Other institutions scrutinized
About ten other private colleges are currently the subject of an investigation by the Ministry of Education.
Following a Radio-Canada report on the intensive recruitment of Indian students by several schools in November, the Legault government promised to carry out in-depth checks.
In fact, according to five former employees of CDI College to whom we spoke and who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, the establishment is recruiting massively Indian students.
The latter would be offered longer training than the regular sessions, which would allow them to obtain a longer work permit thereafter.
Their classes would take place on weekends and many would reside in Ontario, according to these former employees.
CDI College declined to answer our questions on this subject. The Ministry of Education has indicated that it does not want to comment on ongoing investigations and specific cases of schools.
The establishment in brief
- Founded in 1969, CDI College has twenty campuses across Canada, including five in Quebec, all located in the metropolitan area.
- It offers vocational and technical training programs.
- The Quebec City campus was closed in 2017 due to the “decline” of its student population.
- The Journal of Quebec however, reported that the college had also been the subject of complaints related to labor standards and the Ministry of Education.
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