Montreal, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 4, 2023 / With the teachers’ collective agreement ending on March 31, the unions have been negotiating with the government since January. On the evening of May 4, teachers will join forces to let the government know that they are mobilizing to highlight the issues in education. under the theme of Star Wars “May the fourth be with you”, they will ask the government, in this round of negotiations, to listen to them and make concrete investments in education.
The Montreal Journal recently obtained data from the Department of Education revealing that as of February 2023, the province was short 71 full-time and 856 part-time teachers. In addition, the Center for Interuniversity Research on Training and the Teaching Profession (CRIFPE) estimates that 40% of teachers in Quebec will have retired by 2030. Worrying figures. If concrete investments in education are not made, the consequences will be serious.
The composition of classes is at the heart of current negotiations, as it directly influences the daily lives of teachers and students. During the last cycle of negotiations, a committee made up of teachers and school service centers was set up to find concrete and effective solutions to the real problems posed by the composition of classes. In particular, the committee had to look into the composition of regular classes, which brings its share of challenges given the large proportion of students with an individualized education plan (IEP). Everything was supervised by an arbitrator responsible for writing a final report for the Minister of Education. Unfortunately, the committee did not reach a consensus. In his report sent to the Minister in February, the arbitrator is formal: the composition of classes is the main determinant of the workload of teaching staff. Among other things, he recommends that the minister increase funding for resources to help teachers deal with difficult groups, and give them time to consult specialists.
“This round of negotiations is the perfect opportunity for the government to transform the future of education in Quebec,” says Heidi Yetman, President of the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (APEQ). To attract and retain teachers, we must find ways to provide them with better working conditions. Improving class composition is one such way; if we reduce the number of students in classes with considerable or special needs, teachers will have more time to devote to each student. Now is the time to invest, otherwise it will be too late. »
Manifestation
Dates : 4 May 2023
Time: 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Intersection of Saint-Jean Boulevard and Holiday Avenue, Pointe-Claire
FOR MORE ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS: QPAT-APEQ.QC.CA
The Provincial Association of Teachers of Quebec (APEQ) represents all teachers in the English-speaking public sector of Quebec, more than 8,000 people. It works to protect their individual rights and their collective good. Established in 1864, it is the oldest union in Canada.
Information for the media
Julie Montpetit
julie_montpetit@qpat-apeq.qc.ca
514 249-9653
SOURCE : Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers
2023-05-04 13:31:24
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