The new course will be divided into three components: culture, Quebec citizenship and critical thinking, and its themes will be spread over time, depending on the age of the students.
The first part aims to bring students to understand the culture of societies
, by granting a place preponderant
to Quebec culture. It will therefore make it possible to study the foundations, evolution and particularities of Quebec, said Mr. Roberge.
Our young people will therefore have the chance to discover Quebec culture, to get to know it and, I dare say it, to love it too.
The second part – in a way the objective of the program
, according to the minister – will try to prepare young people for the exercise of Quebec citizenship
, emphasizing the values of the company. Indigenous cultures will be discussed.
It will be about self-respect and respect for others, gender equality, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, rights and freedoms, but also the responsibilities of each within the community. society, detailed Mr. Roberge.
The course should also address the representation of sexuality in the public space, including sexual violence, which is still too prevalent
, as well as challenges related to environmental and digital issues, including social media and fake news, he continued.
The course will also aim to introduce students to democratic and judicial institutions in Quebec.
As for the third axis, it aims to develop students’ critical thinking. through the practice of dialogue
, by tackling moral dilemmas and by positioning oneself in relation to religious, social or cultural issues.
The Minister says he is convinced that this will to limit the growing polarization in our society
and bring better social cohesion.
Democracy is not unanimity, it is the possibility of discussing the future, society and the common world that we share. It is accepting disagreement. He is normal.
Jean-François Roberge thus deplored the fact that the remarks currently conveyed in Quebec lack nuance.
Everything is white or everything is black. There are the good guys, there are the bad guys. It is not specific to dialogue and respectful exchanges. There are calls for censorship, disrespect on social media, attacks on free expression. […] It is certain that in Quebec, we can do better
, he said.
For Jean-François Roberge, the Ethics and Religious Culture course required modernization, because it projected images that were too often stereotyped
and defined the identity in relation to the religious community of the individual. This bias
, according to the minister, contravenes Quebec values.
The old course brought debate and ethics, but sometimes prevented the questioning of certain dogmas. Everything must be open to discussion and debate.
According to the Parliamentary Assistant for Education, Jean-Bernard Émond, the course was first subject to a public consultation rigorous
.
An online consultation was launched before the writing of the new course, but two more were also organized face-to-face
, in Quebec City and Montreal, in addition to a virtual consultation with Indigenous communities.
The Ministry of Education also received 200 briefs on the subject.
The course will be gradually tested in primary and secondary classes from the start of the 2022 school year, but only on a voluntary basis. It will be extended to all schools in Quebec in 2023.
And for teachers who are worried about the overload of work that this could bring, the Minister wishes to assure them that training on the course will be offered to them, as well as adapted teaching material.
However, no additional teachers will be hired to implement the new course.
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