In a context where the Legault government is trying to limit spending increases and asking ministries not to exceed allocated budgets, the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, admits that it may be necessary to review the deadlines for certain projects construction of schools.
In interview on the show THE corridors of powerBernard Drainville indicates that budgetary pressure will have repercussions. We must continue to invest in schools, but are we going to have to […] spread out the construction of certain schools over a longer period of time? It’s possible.
According to the minister, budgets for renovating schools or building new ones have been constantly increasing for six years. These investments were necessary, but they must be better controlled.
At some point, you have to set limits. We cannot say that this year, we are going to exceed, we are going to invest X amount of money, then systematically, year after year, always exceed this target. At some point, you have to impose discipline on yourself and therefore respect the target.
A few weeks before the start of the school year, the Minister of Education welcomed the progress in infrastructure in Quebec’s schools. Twenty-five new schools opened their doors in September and more than 273 projects were under construction across Quebec. This includes the construction of 121 new schools.
This is a record pace, according to his ministry, but one which cannot be maintained forever. In an interview with host Daniel Thibeault, Bernard Drainville, however, insists on the fact that this does not mean that projects will be canceled.
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In an interview on the show “Les glaces du verre”, Bernard Drainville spoke to host Daniel Thibeault.
Photo : Radio-Canada
A project that was supposed to be done, say, over three years, could it be done over four years? It’s possible
he added.
More precisely, this means that we must slow down the pace and respect the budgetary envelopes granted by the government. Above all, we will have to impose discipline on ourselves. And here, I am addressing in particular the school service centers to better respect the budgets granted to them
blurted out the Quebec Minister of Education.
For the 2024-2025 school year, 500 million have been planned to build, expand or transform schools in order to accommodate more students.
A school network under pressure
In an interview, the minister emphasized that in six years, his department’s operating budgets have increased by 50%. During the same period, the amounts planned for the construction and renovation of schools in Quebec increased by 150%.
Bernard Drainville admits, however, that pressures on the school network remain. The staff shortage, the increase in the number of students, the increase in cases of violence and intimidation as well as the recruitment and retention problems of the workforce are just a few examples.
I get up every morning, I look at my press review […]. It is very very rare that these are articles […] positive, then I accept that. You have to work on improvement, you have to work on solving problems.
He also wants to revalorize the profession and encourage vocations. At some point, a young person who is wondering what to do with her life must say to herself: “Education could be for me. I want to make a difference in the lives of others. a child”
adds Mr. Drainville.
Bernard Drainville is categorical: training a greater number of teachers to respond to the increase in the number of students to be educated is the number one challenge for his ministry. Among other things, he wishes to find rapid routes for qualified teachers who do not have a certificate in order to give them a basis in pedagogy.
