School boards, staff slam Quebec for 'devastating' $570M budget shortfall

The Quebec government is under criticism for what school administrators are calling devastating cuts to the province's education system, which amount to $570 million less in funding for the upcoming school year. 

Teachers, parents and school principals are worried these budgetary restrictions could impact students' success and services offered to them.

Joe Ortona, the president of the Quebec English School Boards Association, argues that this will make it impossible for school boards and service centres to stay true to their mission of educating students effectively.

"We are completely shocked and devastated," Ortona said in an interview.

"There is no way to be able to cut what the government is asking to cut. It is outright impossible. This will have an immensely detrimental impact on student success, without question." 

Ortona predicted that extracurricular activities, tutoring, arts programs and music programs will be on the "chopping block" across Quebec.

He also added that these restrictions could mean fewer teachers, larger classrooms, more students falling behind and school closures if boards and service centres can't afford to keep them open. 

"The government is simply putting their mismanagement now on the backs of children's futures," he said.

Jean-David Meunier, principal at François-Bourrin high school in Quebec City, said he had to re-read the letter he received from the Ministry of Education four times to make sure he hadn't made a mistake.

"Every thousand dollars is important," Meunier told Radio-Canada.

"We know we're in a difficult budgetary situation. But honestly, I didn't see that scenario coming."

For his school of 575 students, he is being asked to work with several hundred thousand dollars less next year compared to the year that just ended. 

"It's going to be hard not to cut back on student services, because we're already being rigorous," said Meunier, stressing that the budget has no "fat" left to trim.

Drainville says school boards need to be more 'efficient'

Bernard Drainville, Quebec's education minister, defended the government's position. Since 2018, the budget for schools has increased by seven per cent annually, he said, whereas this year the budget will increase by five per cent.

"We will have to be more efficient with the money that's being spent, but at some point, school boards and [school service centres] need to respect the budget that they're given," Drainville told reporters on Wednesday, adding that over the past six years, the budget for education has increased by 58 per cent. 

Katherine Korakakis, president of the English Parents' Committee Association, said the budget shortfall will have an especially big impact on the most "vulnerable" students.

She said some parents can afford for extra resources and tutors for their children, while for others, this isn't the case, making things "very stressful." 

Korakakis pointed out that parents already worry about student success and motivation.

"How much more is this going to impede students staying in school?" she said.