Conflicting numbers? Quebec government now says there are 1,829 vacant teaching positions
Posted August 29, 2023 11:18 am.
On the eve of the start of the new school year for thousands of students, Quebec Minister of Education Bernard Drainville says there are still 1,829 teaching positions to be filled in the public network.
That figure contrasts with the one shared last week. Drainville had caused panic by revealing 8,558 teaching positions were vacant in the province’s elementary and secondary schools.
The minister said Monday the data “evolves continuously.” He also clarified that a vacancy does not mean a teacher is missing in a class.
Last week, Drainville could not ensure there would be an “adult” in each class at the start of the school year.
“I would like… to greet and warmly thank the staff of the 72 school service centres… who are working hard,” said Drainville in a press release sent Monday.
“Your work has made it possible to significantly reduce the number of positions to be filled. Despite the great challenge posed by the labour shortage, I am confident that the picture will improve further.
“In addition to existing measures, our government will continue to work on new solutions to address this shortage.”
Of the remaining 1,829 positions, 334 are regular full-time positions and 1,495 are part-time positions.
Sixty-nine school service centres participated in the collection of information.
—This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
