EMSB speaks out on Quebec elections
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Angela Mancini |
EMSB
CHAIRMAN CHALLENGES POLITICAL PARTIES TO
PAY
MORE RESPECT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS
The
English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is expressing its concern over the way in
which public school boards are being represented during the present provincial
election campaign.
“We provide perhaps one of the most important services in society,” states EMSB Chairman Angela Mancini, “and that is educating our children. I think we do that very well, yet you would not know this from following this election campaign.”
Ms. Mancini said
she will be requesting meetings with representatives from the leading political
parties to discuss the importance of the public education system.
Ms. Mancini notes that in 2002 the
Parti Québecois introduced Bill 104, which closed a so-called loophole in its
French-language charter that had enabled some students who weren't eligible to
attend English schools to gain that right. They did so by attending an
unsubsidized English private school for at least a year. Many then switched to
English public schools, but the Quebec law ended that option. “Our board had more than 27,000 students before
that law was adopted,” emphasizes Ms. Mancini. “This year’s forecast sees that
number drop below 20,000. Between 2007 and 2017, the EMSB is projected to lose
over 4,600 or 20 percent of our students while the francophone school
boards on the Island of Montreal will increase by 18,000 or 13 percent over the same period. A lot of damage has been done to our English
system. Now, the PQ is proposing that they will further tighten the language
laws and restrict access to our adult educational and vocational service
programs. This is yet another attempt to harm the English public education
system while at the same time telling adults that they do not have the right to
free choice.”
As for the Coalition Avenir du Québec, Ms. Mancini
says she is in complete disagreement with leader François Legault`s plan to
abolish school boards. “This is the same
Mr. Legault, I might add, who introduced Bill 104 while with the PQ,” said Ms.
Mancini. “First and foremost, abolishing English school boards is
unconstitutional. He should know that. His plans for what would replace school boards are very
unclear. School boards serve a very important purpose and in the case of the
English community, we represent one of the last remaining elected English
bodies.”
From the Quebec
Liberal Party the EMSB would like to receive a clear answer as to what they
have planned for public school boards, Ms. Mancini says. “School board elections were supposed to take
place last November,” she states. “They were postponed, with no clear answer as
to when the next ones will take place. We have been waiting for direction on
this important information.”
this article isn't very good at all. what exactly does the english school board do / why are they so important that they can not be replaced. All you said is that they educated the children which is way too generic.
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