‘Chaotic implementation’ of Quebec’s new language law, English CEGEPs say

The union representing professional workers at Quebec’s English-language CEGEPs says the province’s new language law has led to staff burnout and confusion among students.

Law 14, previously called Bill 96, came into effect at the start of the school year and now requires students in Quebec to take a total of five French courses. For English-speaking students, this means taking an additional three courses on top of the previously required two in order to graduate.

The implementation of the new law happens as English CEGEPs experience a recruitment and hiring freeze.

According to Éric Cyr, president of the Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC-CSQ), CEGEP staff have struggled to juggle the extra workload that comes with putting in the new changes.

The union called on the government to implement changes to the new legislation to fix what they say was a “chaotic implementation” of Law 14.

“Nobody has grown any extra arms since the act was passed,” Cyr said in a press release. “As a result, many of our members are exhausted because of the impact the legislation has had. They need help.”

Cyr added the additional French classes have also discouraged many students, with the extra course load impacting some students’ ability to graduate.

“We believe that students who were attending CEGEP before Law 14 came into effect should be allowed to complete their studies without losing any courses or having to redo French courses that were replaced after the legislation was implemented,” Cyr said. “They should benefit from some sort of temporary grandfather clause so as not to undermine their motivation and prospects for graduation.” 

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