Non-respect of secularism | Around twenty schools are subject to audits

Following complaints and reports following the Bedford school affair, 17 schools will be subject to audits by Quebec in connection with non-compliance with secularism obligations. Three others will be verified by the Montreal school service center (CSSDM).

In a press release, Quebec indicates that these establishments will be under the microscope from this Thursday, until January 17. The schools affected are located in various regions of the province, including Montreal, Laval, Quebec and Saguenay.

According to information sent to the government, breaches of the four main principles of Law on State Secularism were noted, namely “the separation of the State and religions, the religious neutrality of the State, the equality of all citizens and freedom of conscience and freedom of religion”.

Asked to give examples of these failures on - radio Thursday morning, the Minister of Education Bernard Drainville indicated that it could, for example, be a student exempted from attending a course , “prayer rooms, places of prayer, religious menus in school cafeterias”.

“This type of accommodation could be part of the denunciations,” added Bernard Drainville. His office did not respond to an interview request from The Press.

In addition to these 17 establishments targeted by Quebec, the CSSDM is carrying out audits in three of its schools, but does not want to reveal which ones until the teams have been notified.

Last week, the CSSDM set up a single denunciation channel to denounce inappropriate gestures and behavior in schools, such as “inappropriate teaching methods” or an “attack on secularism in schools”.

Quebec solidaire MP Ruba Ghazal praised the importance of these surveys, while inviting Bernard Drainville to add to his list “the fifty private religious schools subsidized by the State to check whether the educational program is taught there”.

“If the principle of secularism is not respected, we must stop giving them Quebecers’ money,” declared Mr.^me Ghazal via press release.

Over the past few days, MM. Drainville and Roberge also sent a letter to all school service centers to remind them of their obligations in terms of secularism and respect for religious neutrality.

Quebec finally indicates that the auditors will draw up a “detailed portrait” of the alleged actions in these schools over the coming weeks. “In light of the results, all measures to be taken will be evaluated to strengthen controls and secularism in schools,” we can read.