Quebec’s Conseil provincial du soutien scolaire and CUPE’s education sector are cautiously welcoming Minister of Education Sonia Lebel’s decision to remove the caps on full-time equivalent positions imposed by her predecessor, Bernard Drainville. Though welcome, this measure does not address the deep-seated issues facing school support staff and professionals in Quebec.
“The removal of the caps is a positive sign,” said Michelle Poulin, president of the Conseil provincial du soutien scolaire and vice-president of CUPE Québec’s education sector. “However, lifting an administrative constraint isn’t going to meet desperate needs in the field. Support staff and professionals are key to educational success, and budget decisions must reflect it.”
For months now, service centres and school principals have making agonizing choices, forced to curb hiring, suspend extracurricular activities or sometimes even forgo maternity or sick leave replacements. Staffing levels are too low in many establishments to adequately meet growing needs. Such decisions directly impact students, especially children who receive crucial support from remedial teachers, special education technicians, after-school daycare providers and other non-teaching staff.
“We welcome Ms. Lebel’s intention to support school service centres, but we remind you that it also takes listening, dialogue and adequate resources,” concluded Ms. Poulin.