Quebec City, May 6, 2021 — The English Parents’ Committees Association of Quebec (EPCA) and the Quebec Federation of Parents’ Committees (FCPQ) welcome measures announced today by Minister of Education Jean-François Roberge, and the Minister for Education, Isabelle Charest.
For over a year, parents have been there to support their children’s educational success in challenging times, looking to be more actively involved and engaged in academic decision-making. Parent surveys during the school year have shown increased satisfaction with communications related to health measures and cases of COVID-19 in their school that have been sent home, setting a new expectation when it comes to communications related to the success and progress of our children.
The announced measures are a step in the right direction to match this expectation, especially when it comes to creating a new liaison officer in disadvantaged communities. This is a long-standing request from parents that we hope will be extended to all schools.
The intent of two formal communications with parents during the year, as was announced today, should however be transformed into individual meetings where true exchanges can take place. Face-to-face discussions on student progress would better promote smooth transitions within school, as well as foster co-education and improved parental involvement. We further recommend that the number of meetings be increased for parents of students with special needs, beyond the two-session minimum.
Individualized Success Plan
That being said, both EPCA and the FCPQ are disappointed that their proposal for an individualized success plan (ISP) for each student has not been accepted this year. We are certain that this tool would contribute to improved student success, while also becoming an important means for both parents and school staff to enhance collaboration and communications. We will continue to advocate on the benefits of the ISP in the future.
Tutoring and Student Support
The extension of the tutoring program remains a positive development. Parents, however, reiterate that setting criteria that narrowly restricts eligibility for tutoring must be avoided. The program should be available to all students who need it, and requests from parents who feel that their child would benefit from this support should be taken into serious consideration.
In addition, we are satisfied that educational activities proposed for the summer season do address a concrete need, especially among vulnerable students, as well as those in the anglophone and allophone communities. We support the granting of this partnership to the Réseau québécois pour la réussite éducative, a solid and trusted organization. These summer activities should remain a choice for families, however, and should be targeted to meet local needs in collaboration with community groups on the ground.
Motivating Young People
Parents have repeatedly emphasized the importance of extracurricular activities and social initiatives in motivating young people. We therefore welcome plans to enhance programs that allow young people to be more active and go on more frequent educational outings away from the classroom, such as À l'ecole, on bouge!
Back-to-School 2021-2022
With the announcement of an adolescent vaccination campaign to take place before the next school year, we remain hopeful that all students will be able to return to school in person. This would be excellent news for our youth, who would then be able to access support services tailored to their needs on school premises, while also benefiting from face-to-face social interactions.
When it comes to informing parents of decisions on health and safety measures, and any related adjustments to the back-to-school plan that may be necessary, we are satisfied with the proposed timeline. We will, of course, be listening.
To consult this media communique in French, click here.