The Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers Demands that the Political Parties Prioritize Public Education in the Election Campaign

KIRKLAND, QC, March 30, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - With Quebec's election day rapidly approaching, the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT) calls on the candidates of all the political parties to focus on the needs of the public education system. "We have seen major recurring cuts in public schools for the past several years. These cuts have placed a huge stress on our public education system," said Richard Goldfinch, president of QPAT. "QPAT deplores the fact that the needs of students and teachers in the classroom have not been front and centre for all the parties in this electoral campaign".

Too often, QPAT teachers struggle to make do with the decreasing budgets allotted to our public schools. Whether in large inner city schools in need of maintenance or the lack of professional support for our smaller schools in outlying areas, teachers continue to give their best in less than favourable situations. The political parties have failed to talk about this.

So far in this campaign, the political parties have spoken about education in sound bites: the bureaucracy will be reduced, the drop-out rate will fall, school success will improve.  None of the parties has spoken of the long-term investment needed to maintain our public education system among the best in the world.  Teachers have worked hard to build this system and they need a commitment from the parties that they will have the resources needed to maintain and improve it.

QPAT believes that education must once again become a provincial priority because education impacts on all aspects of Quebec society. To ensure that Quebec is able to develop a strong and vibrant economy it needs to have real investment in its public education system. A society that truly values its public education system and the students it serves has healthier, more engaged citizens and is the better for it.

The Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers, founded in 1864, is the federation of teachers in the English public schools in Quebec.  It represents 8,000 members.

SOURCE: Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers

Comment:

Richard Goldfinch
President, QPAT
Cell: 514-770-1118

Information:

Jean-Paul Fossey
Executive Assistant, QPAT
Cell: 514-434-2168