There will be no delay in the implementation of the Quebec Culture and Citizenship course, which will replace the Ethics and Religious Culture program in all schools from September, says Minister Bernard Drainville. Teachers have “all the tools” to train between now and the start of the school year.
“Let’s be clear: we remain on track when it comes to implementing the CCQ course. Last year we agreed to postpone it for a year, mainly at the request of the field and the unions. We have been preparing for this for several years and ask everyone’s cooperation,” the Minister of Education said on Monday.
Faced with the few teachers trained for the new program, the Federation of Teaching Unions (FSE-CSQ) asked Bernard Drainville to return.
Less than half (45%) of teachers have received training in the new course, according to a survey conducted by the center among its members. And even those who are trained don’t feel adequately equipped to give it.
The minister firmly refuses. “Several schools already offer it. The staff has all the tools in-house to train for the next school year. Nearly 25 online training courses have been given. They are available on the internet at all times and will continue next year,” he said.
If a teacher does not feel ready, he can come back to watch the online training and perfect his preparation for next September, Bernard Drainville underlines. “We are confident that everything will go well,” he assured on the sidelines of an announcement of road investments on Quebec’s south coast.
ECR needs to be replaced
Bernard Drainville believes that it is time to replace the famous ECR course, “which has been much criticized”.
“We have been preparing for the entry into force of the new course for several years,” he emphasizes. This is a very important course because it will focus on several contemporary topics: the issue of respect, consent, social networks, sex education, citizenship, secularism, controlling emotions. It’s time to move on.”
Nevertheless, the minister is aware of the challenges that the creation of a new program entails. There may be ‘adjustments over time’. “I accept the fact that a teacher starting a new course may not feel 100% rested. It’s normal to start something new, it’s normal to go through a transition period. But I think it will go very well.”
According to the FSE-CSQ’s internal research, as many as 81% of teachers say they are not well equipped to teach the new course to children and adolescents within a few months.
The president, Josée Scalabrini, also lamented the fact that school materials will not be accessible before the end of August, leaving teachers with very little time to master the new material.