One week before the start of the school year, the lack of support staff is also felt in the school network: there are almost three times as many vacant special education positions in schools in the Quebec region compared to the same period last year.
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According to data collected from the capital’s school service centres, Premières-Seigneuries, Découvreurs and Navigateurs, there are currently 203 full-time or part-time positions in special education to be filled, compared to 77 positions last year (August 14, 2023).
Most of them are educators who work directly with students with special needs in classrooms. They are called “TES” in school jargon, as they are “special education technicians”.
Carl Ouellet, president of the Quebec Association of School Management Personnel, confirms that the recruitment “has been difficult for years.”
Worse than last year in childcare?
On the ground, concerns about staff being employed in childcare services are also important, he said. “People are telling us it’s worse than last year in childcare,” he says.
In some schools, the management will contact parents in the coming days to ask those who cannot send their children to day care this year, to reduce the number of registrations, he said.
In Quebec schools, there are still more than 450 educator positions to fill daycare services, but the situation is comparable to last year’s situation, according to figures received. The Diary.
Regional report forthcoming
However, we have to wait a little longer before we get the facts at the regional level.
The Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, published on Friday the number of vacant teaching positions in public schools in Quebec, as the beginning of the school year approaches, but it is necessary to wait a few more days before Quebec reveals the number of positions. of power for professionals and support staff, such as TES and childcare educators, the minister’s office is told.
“The ministry verifies the reliability of the data so that we communicate the best information,” says its press secretary, Antoine de la Durantaye. The ministry “does not withhold any information” , he wants to clarify.
The School Supporters’ Federation disagrees. “I think they don’t want to shock the people. It doesn’t make sense, as if there were teachers [dans les écoles] in Quebec,” said its president, Éric Pronovost.
2024-08-19 20:11:16
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