The teachers would even like to change from the next school year, if possible.
The Sun obtained the results of an internal survey conducted by the Federation of Education Unions (FSE) among its members.
Nine teachers surveyed out of 10 want a return to a school year divided into two stages, whereas at the moment it is three.
Two thirds (66%) also believe that the complexity of the evaluations ordered by the Ministry of Education both harms student learning and unnecessarily increases the administrative workload of teachers. This proportion rises to 82% in primary school.
Of the 95,000 members of the FSE, making it the largest teachers’ union in Quebec, 9,615 responded to the consultation carried out over four weeks last November and December.
This represents around 10% of the members of the FSE and around 6% of all of the approximately 150,000 teachers in the public school network.
No less than 89% say they are “favorable to a reduction in the number of bulletins to be produced annually”, which is currently three.
It was two during the two full school years following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e. 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.
“What we see in the figures is that there are a few more primary school teachers who responded [au sondage] than the proportion they represent. This tells us that this is probably a major concern for primary school teachers on this subject,” said the president of the FSE, Richard Bergevin, in an interview.
If Mr. Bergevin concedes that this is not a scientific survey as carried out by specialized firms using random samples, the trade unionist notes that with nearly 10,000 respondents, “we have a shot important probe and fairly representative of what is happening in the environments.
“The minister should listen to what the teachers tell him and try to find the right path to make these ideas migrate.”
— Richard Bergevin, president of the FSE union
“In terms of evaluations, what we want is for it to be simplified. And in terms of ballots, going from three ballots to two ballots, we have a strong consensus. It’s something that we have already experienced during the pandemic, and then we think that it could be functional,” summarizes Mr. Bergevin.
After the pandemic, the parent committees were the first to request the return of the three report cards.
In the event of a reduction in the number of report cards from three to two, no less than 92% of teachers who responded to the survey want to maintain the first communication without notes, now produced in mid-October.
The timing of this first communication is, however, debated. 58% would like to postpone it until mid-November.
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The union leader suggests “leaving it to schools to define the moment of the first communication”.
At two stages, the following proposals are favored by respondents: that they have approximately the same number of days (55% of respondents) and are weighted at 40% for the first stage and 60% for the second (64% of respondents ). Like during the pandemic.
38% of teachers prefer a longer second stage.
Formerly the four bulletins
The division of the school year into three stages dates from 2011, with the imposition of the single report card. Before, the majority of young Quebecers received four report cards per year.
The president of the FSE indicates that communication tools other than the bulletin between teachers and parents are today more numerous and more effective.
The division of the school year into three stages dates from 2011. (123RF/123RF)
With the Mozaïk-Portail application or site, for example, it is now possible for parents to follow their child’s grades “almost in real time,” underlines Mr. Bergevin.
He wants to “have discussions very quickly” with representatives of the ministry and the Drainville cabinet.
“We will see with them if it is realistic to think that next year there could be changes. At the level of the national process, I am not sure that we are capable of having results for next year, but we will work as quickly as possible,” attests union leader Bergevin.
Called to react to the FSE data, the office of the Minister of Education responded that Bernard Drainville “has already heard these arguments, particularly in his visits to schools, and he is sensitive to them”.
“That said, report cards are important for parents because they allow them to monitor their children’s academic progress. This is why it is important to maintain this communication,” argues his press secretary, in writing.
The Minister of Education of Quebec, Bernard Drainville, “does not envisage changes with regard to the number of report cards”. (Caroline Grégoire/Archives Le Soleil)
“After the pandemic, a return to normal was desired. We must ensure that the school team and parents can follow the student’s progress throughout the school year. We will continue to listen to the various concerns, but we are not considering any changes regarding the number of ballots,” concludes the Drainville firm.
Richard Bergevin has chaired the FSE since July, after succeeding Josée Scalabrini. This teachers’ union is affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ).
