Quebec is putting the brakes on the construction of new schools this year: after having built around twenty on average per year for five years, only three new school constructions have been authorized this year, despite the significant increase in the number of students who continues.
• Also read: Overflowing schools: more than $400 million for modular classes for… just three years
During the year 2024-2025, Quebec gave the green light to 28 projects to add space in the school network, which represent half a billion dollars. However, this is an amount that is well below the $1.3 billion granted on average per year for the past five years.
However, this year, the budget devoted to “adding space” will mainly finance the acquisition of modular classrooms, since only three new constructions and four expansions have received the approval of Quebec, we learned. The Journal (see details below).
The inaugurations of new schools will therefore be much less frequent in the coming years, while the Legault government has inaugurated 106 over the past five years.
20,000 more students
However, the lack of space is glaring in the school network. By the end of June, Quebec public schools will have to accommodate 20,000 additional students, the Ministry of Education predicted at the start of the school year.
Over the past year, several service centers have submitted ten, sometimes even twenty, projects to add space, without any construction or expansion being authorized (see examples below).
“The pressure is becoming very great, and we still have an influx of new students that continues,” says Pierre Lapointe, general director of the Capital School Service Center. To resolve this puzzle, Mr. Lapointe mentions an increase in student transfers and the use of modular classes, the costs of which related to their installation have reached peaks for three years, i.e. more than $400 million.
The lack of space, particularly at the secondary level, is forcing service centers to now install “autonomous modular complexes”, more complex and expensive infrastructures which also include specialized premises for teaching the arts or physical education. , explains Mr. Lapointe.
Respect the “ability to pay”
In the office of the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, we recall that the total budget for infrastructure in the school network, a large part of which is devoted to school renovations, has never been so high.
“Our priority is also to ensure the health and safety of our students, so we must invest massively in schools in order to renovate them,” says its press officer, Antoine de la Durantaye.
“We will continue to invest in order to meet growing needs, while respecting our ability to pay,” he adds.
However, according to Martin Maltais, professor specializing in financing and education policies at the University of Quebec at Rimouski, Quebec must review its priorities in order to finance more school construction, and this in an “urgent” manner.
“If there are cuts to be made, let them be made elsewhere,” he says. The priority must be the education and future of our young people. There is no other way to maintain our presence in the knowledge economy and maintain our relative wealth compared to other countries in the world.”
Space addition projects funded by Quebec in 2024-2025
- 16 purchases of modular premises
- 4 school expansions
- 3 new constructions
- 3 gym additions
- 1 building acquisition
- 1 redevelopment
Total: 28 projects
Source: Ministry of Education
Projects to add space in the public school network
Constructions, expansions, school replacements or purchase of modulars
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Number of requests | More than 200 | More than 250 | Environ 300 | More than 400 | More than 300 | More than 300 |
| Number of projects selected | 128 | 90 | 40 | 55 | 45 | 28 |
| Funding granted | 1.7G$ | 1,8G$ | $0.9G | 1.0G$ | 1,1G$ | 0,5G$ |
Source: Ministry of Education
Requests submitted by the school network: some examples
Mille-Îles school service center (Lower Laurentides)
- 25 space addition projects requested
- 1 project to purchase modular classes accepted
Navigateurs school service center (Chaudière-Appalaches)
- 20 space addition projects requested
- 5 modular classroom purchase projects accepted
Montreal School Service Center
- 14 space addition projects requested
- No project accepted
Capital School Service Center
- 12 space addition projects requested
- No project accepted
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