Withdrawal of the PEI at primary level: the CSSPO takes a step back

After receiving several comments on its intention to withdraw the International Education Program (IEP) offer from its schools, the Portages-de-l’Outaouais School Service Center (CSSPO) is giving itself one more year to think .

Since 2022, the CSSPO questions the place of special educational projects (PPP) in its educational establishments. One of the modifications that could be made would be the removal of the PEI in public elementary schools in the Hull and Aylmer sectors in 2028-2029.

The school service center was expected to make its decision this month on the future of these programs.

In light of comments received during the consultation processexplains the acting deputy director general of CSSPOStéphane Lacasse, we still have a little work to do to ensure we make the right choices. […] Then we want to give people time to express themselves.

The manager believes that the parents were jostled by the process, which explains the step backwards.

A petition that has gained ground

Last August, parents from the Aylmer and Hull sectors launched a petition to maintain the offer of PEI in primary school.

The petition, which reached 586 signatures, was indirectly influenced the decision of the service center, explains Stéphane Lacasse, who believes that the message was expressed in the right way.

We were sent a message, we were told that there are things with which we do not agree.

The representative of the signatories of this petition, Karen St-Pierre, was pleasantly surprised by this announcement.

The mother of three children, the two oldest of whom are enrolled in PEI at the Mont-Bleu International School, believes she was listened to when she submitted the petition to the board of directors CSSPO.

She now hopes to start a dialogue fluid, transparent and concrete with its school service center by participating in public consultations.

Finding consensus

The CSSPO will continue to consult parents over the next year. They will be called upon to give their opinion again during public consultations in the coming weeks.

The objective? Find the solution that will please the very very large majority of parents in the school service centersays Stéphane Lacasse.

A solution that would be unanimous is achievable according to Karen St-Pierre. I am convincedshe said, that we will find a consensus and that we will perhaps succeed in maintaining our international education program in its current context.

We always have hope because the well-being of children is what is most important. And I dare to believe that the CSSPO keep that in mind too.

Mixed reviews

Some parents spoke out in favor of removing the PEI during the last public consultations of the CSSPO.

Stéphane Lacasse recognizes that if the PEI in primary school is set to disappear, it will be necessary to find alternatives for students who learn faster.

We also find them in each of our schools. There is already a response being made in our communities, which are creative and able to take care of these children.

No deadline for decision-making has been set at this time. Details on the next consultations are also to be determined in the following weeks.