Negotiations - Teachers Demand Improved Services for Students

MONTREAL , Feb. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - The Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT) will renew its demand today for better services for students by demonstrating at the Ministry of Education building in Montreal at 600 Fullum at 12:00 noon, Friday February 12, 2010 . The demonstrators will present "Snapshots of a Teacher's Reality", a questionnaire filled out by over 2,000 teachers, to the MELS.

"The Snapshots clearly tell us that not enough services are being provided to our students. Four out of five classes have more than 10% of students with special needs and one class out of every three is oversize. This is an unacceptable situation that hinders student success", said Serge Laurendeau, President of QPAT. "Our members are clearly telling us that students with special needs are not receiving the services they need to succeed. They are also clearly telling us that lack of job security has a negative effect on the quality of educational services. It is time for the government to improve the situation, not to claw back resources", continued Laurendeau.

The current collective agreement expires on March 31, 2010 . "We had originally hoped for an agreement by the end of March, but our priority is for an agreement that makes sense. The government and the school boards have work to do before that is possible", concluded Laurendeau. QPAT will continue to make its demands known and advocate for better services to students.

QPAT represents over 8,000 teachers in the English school boards in the kindergarten, elementary, secondary, adult education and vocational education sectors.

For further information: Jean-Paul Fossey, Executive Assistant, QPAT, [phone]; Comments: Serge Laurendeau, President, QPAT, [phone]