Quebec Education Minister tables reform, gives himself more power
Posted May 4, 2023 12:39 pm.
QUEBEC CITY – Education Minister Bernard Drainville is proposing in Bill 23, which he tabled Thursday, to review school governance and give himself more powers.
Drainville is already prepared to “reform the old reform” of his own government adopted in 2020, the official opposition House leader, Monsef Derraji, immediately pointed out.
Under Bill 23, school governance would be reviewed, giving the minister the power to appoint or dismiss the directors general of school service centers and school boards.
The Minister would also be able to overturn a decision of a school service center or school board, if that decision is not consistent with the goals and directions set by the Minister.
Drainville saying at a press conference Thursday that these powers are necessary to achieve better results for students.
“We are facing tremendous challenges in the field of education. If we want to have one direction and be performing, we need to make sure everyone is dancing to the same tune, that everyone is working as a team,” he said.
Bill 23 also enacts the ‘Loi sur l’institut national d’excellence en éducation’ which creates an institute to promote excellence in education.
This independent body would become the benchmark for evidence-based best practices in education.
“A place where the best science in education, the best methods, the best ways of teaching are located. A place where everyone working in education can turn to. Learn from it, be inspired by it,” Drainville said.
The bill also changes the name “Council of Higher Education” to “Council of Higher Instruction” to clarify the function of the council and to revise its composition.
It provides that the Minister may designate a “repository and disclosure system”, in part to support the management of the education system and streamline communications.
Quebec English School Boards are currently fighting Bill 40 – the CAQ’s last education reform – in court. This reform gives the government more powers.
“We are convinced the bill respects the rights of the English speaking community of Quebec,” Drainville said.
Adding they would ensure the Directors General appointed for the English School Boards would be from the English speaking community.
– With files from The Canadian Press
