Quebec dropout rates from ‘regular’ programs are 4 times higher than from special programs: education minister

The dropout rate is four times higher in “regular” programs than in special programs, Education Minister Bernard Drainville revealed Wednesday.

He was questioned by Quebec Solidaire (QS) MP Sol Zanetti as part of the annual review of the Ministry of Education’s budget allocations.

Zanetti wanted to know if a student in a so-called “regular” program was more at risk of dropping out than a student enrolled in a special educational program (sports-study, arts-study, etc.).

The minister indicated that the dropout rate for the entire system is 16.9 per cent. Just over 6 per cent of students enrolled in a special program with selection in 2022-2023 left school without earning a diploma.

In contrast, approximately 24 per cent of “regular” students dropped out, Drainville revealed. He clarified that these data were approximate and “preliminary.”

However, they do “give cause for reflection,” responded Zanetti, whose party advocates for greater diversity in schools to promote academic success.

The minister welcomed the fact that in 2024-2025, nearly 51 per cent of high school students were enrolled in a specific program, an increase he said he found “very encouraging.”

“We want as many students as possible to be enrolled in a specific program,” he declared.

$670 million in cuts, 99 projects put on hold

Wednesday’s appropriations review also focused on cuts to the system, which represent only 1 per cent of the education budget, the minister defended.

According to Liberal MP Madwa-Nika Cadet, education cuts this year total $670 million. She also denounced the fact that 99 space expansion projects had been put on hold.

Last summer, $400 million was cut from asset maintenance. This was money that the school service centers (CSSs) were planning to spend; therefore, it hadn’t yet been allocated, Drainville explained.

Then, in December, an additional $200 million was requested from the system, and then an additional $70 million was included in the catch-up plan for students.

This $70 million figure wasn’t pulled out of thin air, the minister insisted. He maintained that the CSSs told him in September that they planned to spend only $150 million of the $220 million available for catch-up.

This year’s “consolidation” “we think is reasonable, that it’s good management,” Drainville defended himself. “Everyone must make an effort.”

Furthermore, he acknowledged that 99 projects to add space had to be put on hold, emphasizing, however, that all requests for modular classrooms were accepted.

Decisions made by “caquism,” accuses QS

Zanetti said he had a great deal of “empathy” for the minister and his team, who must make “difficult choices” as Quebec’s deficit will reach nearly $14 billion in 2025-2026.

But at the same time, he accused the Legault government of showing “favouritism” in prioritizing school construction or expansion projects.

According to QS, the government invested $4,189 per child in CAQ ridings, $2,799 in Liberal ridings, $1,889 in solidarity ridings, and only $1,045 in Parti Québécois-held ridings.

“I firmly reject the allegations that infrastructure projects are determined by partisan criteria,” Drainville insisted, describing Zanetti’s allegations as “very serious.”

He indicated that projects were judged based on five criteria: space requirements, enrollment trends, proportion of growth, real estate development, and the location required for student education.

The minister demanded that Zanetti disclose his calculation method, which he agreed to do, on the condition that Drainville make public the evaluation conducted for each project, whether rejected or accepted.

“We have other things to do,” the minister replied, recalling that CSSs submit approximately 300 applications each year for the construction of new infrastructure.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews