Parents want son with special needs allowed back in school after expulsion

"It’s really heartbreaking to see him like this every day,” says Amina Kobibi on her 11-year-old child with special needs, Abdel, who was expelled from his school three months ago due to alleged hostility towards staff. Farah Mustapha reports.

By Farah Mustapha, OMNI

An 11-year-old child with special needs was expelled from his school three months ago due to alleged hostility towards staff.

Now Montreal’s Algerian community is asking the Quebec Ministry of Education to intervene and find a solution.

Abdel Kobibi’s parents say they’re fighting for their son’s right to an education. The family and supporters from the community protested in front of the minister of education’s office on Saturday.

But they say their cries aren’t being heard.

“We are demanding that my son goes back to school as soon as possible, just like any other kid,” said Abdelkacem Kobibi, the boy’s father. “Especially that he has Down Syndrome, he should be educated. The minister of education should be more considerate with children with special needs.”

The Kobibis say their life has changed drastically since Abdel was expelled. His mother Amina Kobibi was forced to quit her job to stay home with her son. She says her child is a prisoner at home and it’s affecting his mental health.

“Every morning Abdel gets dressed and waits by the window for his school bus,” said Amina. “He keeps asking ‘why can’t I go to school to see my friends.’ It’s really heartbreaking to see him like this every day.”

CityNews reached out to the school, École Marc-André-Fortier in Châteauguay, on Montreal’s South Shore. In a statement, they said:

“It is not in our practice to comment on a specific file concerning a student, but in regard to students with behavioural difficulties and challenges where members of the school have dealt with repeated physical or verbal violence, the school brings all partners involved, including the parents and school staff in, in order to identify the necessary interventions to avoid all dangerous behaviours and offer services.”

The school says in situations where there is an absence of collaboration, where a family is not receptive or refuses the solutions identified, it is possible to implement an alternative solution where education is offered outside the school or at the student’s home.

Abdel’s parents say they never received an invitation to meet with school staff to discuss their son’s situation, and every time they tried to follow up, they got nothing in return.

They say the school did offer home schooling for an hour a day, five hours a week, which Abdel’s parents say isn’t enough.

“My wife used to go to school to try and meet with the administration or call them but she was never able to reach them,” said Abdelkacem.

protest, people holding signs

Parents of Abdel Kobibi and Montreal’s Algerian community gather outside Quebec’s Ministry of education in protest Feb. 18, 2023. (Credit: OMNI/Farah Mustapha)

CityNews reached out to the Quebec Ministry of Education in a statement sent by email they said: “Every child has the right to education until 21-years-old – in the case of a handicapped child. For students with behavioural issues it is the schools responsibility to put an intervention plan in place, supported by the school service centre. We understand the parents situation, but the service centre has the responsibility to adapt educational services for a handicapped student. Parents have the right to file a complaint at all times. Parents could ask for guidance from the Office de la protection des personnes handicapées for a specific plan to respond to the student’s needs in collaboration with the health and social services network.”

The Kobibis still have hope their son will be able to return to school and be with his friends.

“We are not asking for the impossible,” said Amina. “We just want Abdel to have his right to education.”

protest, people holding signs

Parents of Abdel Kobibi and Montreal’s Algerian community gather outside Quebec’s Ministry of education in protest Feb. 18, 2023. (Credit: OMNI/Farah Mustapha)

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