Unions and principals concerned about appointment process
(Quebec) Teachers' unions and principals are concerned about the process of appointing the potential National Student Advocate. Some are even asking Quebec City to entrust this new structure to the Québec Ombudsman in order to "simplify and shorten the tortuous procedure" for complaints proposed by the government.
Education Minister Jean-François Roberge on Tuesday began public hearings on Bill 9,
a reform tabled last fall to create a national student ombudsman.
The Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) welcomes Québec City's desire to establish a uniform complaint procedure for all Quebec students. However, she doubted the usefulness of creating a national student ombudsman who oversees the regional student protectors and instead proposes to confirm the mandate to the Québec Ombudsman.
"The Québec Ombudsman proposed [already] in 2017 that his department become the recourse for people dissatisfied with the handling of complaints made to school boards. Such a provision, which already exists for health and social services, would be feasible at a lower cost, while avoiding a duplication of government expertise in terms of recourse for the handling of complaints, "says the teachers' union.
But in the event of the creation of a national student ombudsman, as provided for in the bill, the AWF considers that his appointment cannot be the responsibility of the government, which is not a "sufficient guarantee of neutrality".
Ensuring independenceThe Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and its education federations also asked Quebec city on Tuesday to review the process for appointing the future national student protector so that he or she is appointed by a two-thirds vote in the National Assembly.
"In the same vein, the appointment of regional protectors should be the responsibility of the government and not the minister, to promote a healthy distance between them," said the trade union centre.
The CSQ is also concerned about the terms and conditions that will define the complaints that will be investigated by the National Protector. She wanted them to be clarified. This request is also made by school principals, who fear "the protector will be overwhelmed with complaints that he should not deal with".
Angry directionsIn addition, school principals gathered within the Fédération québécoise des directions d'établissement d'enseignement (FQDE) are angry with the Legault government, which refused their request to be heard in parliamentary committee this week.
"This is absurd. As soon as the bill was announced, we immediately expressed our interest in being heard on various fronts. [...] [School principals] will be the first to be affected," said FQDE President Nicolas Prévost.
According to him, "the independence of the National Student Ombudsman is a must", and it will be necessary to clarify what types of complaints he will deal with. "A lot can be done on the ground between a complainant and the person involved in the complaint. This aspect must be valued," he said.
"As a parent, the first person you refer to when you have questions is the principal. More than 90% of dissatisfactions and complaints are resolved in the school directly with the principal. The parent needs to have that connection and he needs to know what the directorates think [of the bill]," added Mr. Prévost.
Education Minister Jean-François Roberge on Tuesday began public hearings on Bill 9,
a reform tabled last fall to create a national student ombudsman.
The Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) welcomes Québec City's desire to establish a uniform complaint procedure for all Quebec students. However, she doubted the usefulness of creating a national student ombudsman who oversees the regional student protectors and instead proposes to confirm the mandate to the Québec Ombudsman.
"The Québec Ombudsman proposed [already] in 2017 that his department become the recourse for people dissatisfied with the handling of complaints made to school boards. Such a provision, which already exists for health and social services, would be feasible at a lower cost, while avoiding a duplication of government expertise in terms of recourse for the handling of complaints, "says the teachers' union.
But in the event of the creation of a national student ombudsman, as provided for in the bill, the AWF considers that his appointment cannot be the responsibility of the government, which is not a "sufficient guarantee of neutrality".
Ensuring independenceThe Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and its education federations also asked Quebec city on Tuesday to review the process for appointing the future national student protector so that he or she is appointed by a two-thirds vote in the National Assembly.
"In the same vein, the appointment of regional protectors should be the responsibility of the government and not the minister, to promote a healthy distance between them," said the trade union centre.
The CSQ is also concerned about the terms and conditions that will define the complaints that will be investigated by the National Protector. She wanted them to be clarified. This request is also made by school principals, who fear "the protector will be overwhelmed with complaints that he should not deal with".
Angry directionsIn addition, school principals gathered within the Fédération québécoise des directions d'établissement d'enseignement (FQDE) are angry with the Legault government, which refused their request to be heard in parliamentary committee this week.
"This is absurd. As soon as the bill was announced, we immediately expressed our interest in being heard on various fronts. [...] [School principals] will be the first to be affected," said FQDE President Nicolas Prévost.
According to him, "the independence of the National Student Ombudsman is a must", and it will be necessary to clarify what types of complaints he will deal with. "A lot can be done on the ground between a complainant and the person involved in the complaint. This aspect must be valued," he said.
"As a parent, the first person you refer to when you have questions is the principal. More than 90% of dissatisfactions and complaints are resolved in the school directly with the principal. The parent needs to have that connection and he needs to know what the directorates think [of the bill]," added Mr. Prévost.
HUGO PILON-LAROSE
LA PRESSE
National Student Advocate| Unions and principals concerned about the appointment process | The Press (lapresse.ca)
LA PRESSE
National Student Advocate| Unions and principals concerned about the appointment process | The Press (lapresse.ca)
