Poor state of Quebec’s public schools could make children sick: Report

From poor quality drinking water to bad ventilation, a new report takes a hard look at Quebec's schools, and the results are not positive.

From poor quality drinking water to bad ventilation, a new report from the Institute de recherche et d’informations socioeconomiques (IRIS) takes a hard look at the sad state of Quebec’s schools.

IRIS researchers found 53 per cent of public schools in the province are classified as being in poor or very poor condition.

The study’s co-author, Maxim Fortin, says one-third of schools have problems with poor “water quality, with air quality, with ventilation, so the schools are a potential problem for public health.”

The report also highlights the teacher shortage and lack of special needs educators as barriers to academic success.

Meanwhile, the number of unqualified teachers in Quebec classrooms has skyrocketed, increasing 171 per cent from 2013 – 2023.

“I think that many people were aware that schools were in bad shape,” said Fortin. “The aspect of unqualified teachers is one of the striking, astonishing aspects of the study. “

He believes the root cause of the education system’s crumbling infrastructure is that governments didn’t invest enough in maintaining schools over decades.

IRIS is recommending massive investments totally $3.7 billion per year for 10 years, with $2.8 billion going towards restoring school infrastructure and keeping up with maintenance.

Fortin says it would cover the bare minimum needed, “just to bring the situation to an acceptable condition.”

The report also calls for investments in teacher training for unqualified educators, which could include bursaries and paid internships.

Education Minister Sonia Lebel believes the province is already investing enough in education.

“This year the increase in the budget is of three per cent, what we need to maintain the service even more is two per cent so we have what we need this year to maintain service and provide service for the schools,” she said.

“We’re in a crisis situation right now. in education,” said Joe Ortona, President of the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA). “I think the government either doesn’t understand the magnitude of the problem or doesn’t care.”

With an election around the corner, Fortin hopes all political parties in the province will take the report’s recommendations to heart.

“We hope that our study will generate discussion, reflection about the state of public education.”