Violence in Nunavik schools - The Kativik School Board must accept
responsibility to act

MONTREAL, May 12 /CNW Telbec/ - With regard to recent articles in the Journal de Québec concerning violence in the schools in Nunavik, the Association of Employees of Northern Québec (CSQ) wishes to draw attention to several important points.

AENQ firmly believes that the Kativik School Board could do far more to combat violence against its teaching staff. President Patrick D'Astous has stated, "Since 2007, we have been in contact with those responsible at the School Board on at least ten occasions offering to work with them to combat violence in the schools; those initiatives have consistently been rejected. This irresponsibility on their part borders on scandalous."

AENQ, currently negotiating with the KSB to renew the collective agreements, further believes that the KSB has no alternative but to support AENQ's top priority, which is to provide support for students with difficulties in order to promote educational success and, at the same time, make school a positive experience for all. It is the view of AENQ that "It is time to put an end to the systematic refusal of the only school board in Québec not to adopt a policy of assistance to students with difficulties." Mr D'Astous added, "The best way to prevent violence in schools is always to create, as much as possible, a climate in which students feel they matter and have confidence that they can succeed."

Finally, AENQ condemns the KSB's implication that the violence in its schools may be attributable to the inexperience of teachers. "If the KSB wishes to retain teachers, it couldn't find a worse way to go about it. In any given year, over 100 new teachers join and leave the KSB, representing almost a third of the total teaching staff. This is clear indication that teachers with more than five years of experience are truly in the minority, indeed, vastly outnumbered, within the KSB. Despite that, the Board does very little to promote attraction and retention. Management offers on the negotiating table contain no provisions whatever to deal with that problem. I am outraged when I read comments by the KSB that are so misleading and show so little respect," Mr D'Astous added.

Portrait of AENQ

Founded in 1971, the Association of Employees of Northern Québec, an affiliate of the CSQ, has over 1,500 members. It represents, teachers and support staff of the Cree and Kativik school boards as well as employees of childcare centres in the Cree Territory.

For further information: Patrick D'Astous, AENQ, [phone], Fax: [phone]