teacher shortage – French education associations make common cause in Declaration – Hurry to the left!

QUEBEC CITY, November 19, 2024 – The Federation of Education Unions (FSE-CSQ) is very pleased to host the Conference of Francophone Education Associations (CAFÉ) in Quebec, which concludes this morning after three day exchanges on the educational situation in Quebec. the various provinces of Canada. The discussions focused in particular on the issue of the lack of workers, which is a problem in all areas.

“During this important exercise, we were able to reach a consensus and put together a joint declaration, which we are all committed to taking to the government authorities of our respective regions. We want to see the difficult shortage situation improve as soon as possible,” said Richard Bergevin, president of the FSE-CSQ and representative of Quebec.

CAFÉ promotes French and public education, and its meetings are an opportunity for member unions to present their own issues, while at the same time reinforcing the ties that unite them.

The members of the CAFÉ are: Association of Francophone Teachers of New Brunswick (AEFNB), Association of Franco-Ontarian Teachers (AEFO), Francophone Educators and Educators of Manitoba (EFM) and the Federation of Education Unions (FSE-CSQ) . ). Other associations were present as guests, notably the New Brunswick Federation of Teachers (FENB), the British Columbia Francophone Program Teachers’ Union (SEPF), the Saskatchewan Federation of Teachers (FES) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA). The Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF/FCE) is also present as an observer.

CAFÉ was co-founded in 1981 with the Centrale de l’enseignement du Québec (CEQ), which later became the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ).

This is the text of the Proclamation, which can also be found on the FSE-CSQ website :

Quebec declaration of teacher shortage

Given that there is a severe shortage of qualified French teachers in Canada and that this shortage does not seem to be resolved anytime soon;

Because this shortage undermines services for students, harms their learning conditions and endangers the survival of some French schools;

Because difficult working conditions and the degradation of the profession have contributed to the difficulties in retaining qualified staff and to the lack of attractiveness of the teaching;

Because the shortage leads to the deployment of a large number of unqualified staff, which over-exerts experienced staff and causes unprofessionalism in the work of teachers;

Considering the importance of teaching in French, one of the two official languages ​​in Canada;

Considering the cry from the heart of French teachers, whose voice we have proudly;

We urgently call on regional governments to:

1- Improve working and teaching conditions, especially by reducing the workload, by reducing the number of students in each class and by reviewing its composition, with the aim to help keep teachers in their jobs and become qualified teachers;

2- Implement concrete measures to attract the next generation of teachers, especially through better access to teaching knowledge, through an increase in financial support for studies as well as through promoting the teaching profession in all forums;

3- Provide a healthy working environment for all teachers, an environment that is free from violence and discrimination and supports cooperation;

4- To guarantee quality initial training to train enough young people and to be given fair funding to allow teachers to master the necessary professional skills and meet the requirements of the profession;

5- Launch a campaign to promote teaching in French by remembering what is necessary for students and teachers from the diversity of Francophonie communities;

6- Collaborate actively with union organizations to identify and implement practical solutions to the shortage while taking into account the specific realities of each school’s environment.

This situation is no longer a simple challenge, it represents a crisis for the future of our education systems, as well as the development of the French language and its cultures. We cannot remain silent about this crisis which directly affects the future of our children and our communities.

The Declaration was adopted and signed in Quebec on November 19, 2024.