Quebec’s largest francophone education union is pressing political parties to make education a central issue as the provincial election campaign begins and schools prepare to reopen.
Speaking at the CSQ’s annual back-to-school press conference in Montreal on Monday, CSQ president Éric Gingras told reporters that the education system is facing multiple, interconnected crises that require immediate reinvestment and long-term planning.
“the courage to say that ‘things are not going well’ in education and that it is necessary to reinvest in it.”
Gingras, joined by leaders of the union’s three federations representing teachers, professional staff and school support workers, outlined a list of systemic problems they say are undermining public education in Quebec:
- Funding shortfalls that the union says limit program delivery and supports;
- Workforce shortages and a high workload that affect retention and recruitment;
- Job insecurity among education staff;
- Concerns about violence and students’ behaviour;
- Challenges created by rapidly evolving digital technology in classrooms;
- Infrastructure problems in school buildings and facilities.
Call for a national conference
In response to these issues, the CSQ renewed its demand for a dedicated national education conference that would bring together stakeholders across the sector to develop a coherent plan for the next 15 to 20 years. The union leadership noted that the last major consultative conference of this kind occurred in 1995.
Union officials framed their call as an appeal for a broad, multi‑party discussion to set priorities and funding commitments that would endure beyond short electoral cycles. They argued that piecemeal measures and ad hoc funding will not resolve the structural problems facing schools, staff and students.
Implications for students and staff
Though the CSQ did not release new numerical data at the press conference, the federation leaders emphasised the practical effects they say stem from chronic underfunding and staffing instability. Those effects include reduced access to specialised services, larger class sizes in some settings, increased reliance on temporary or replacement staff and greater pressure on remaining personnel.
Union representatives said the cumulative impact of these trends is a system that struggles to attract and retain qualified educators and support professionals — a concern that has implications for student achievement and well‑being.
| Problem identified | Described consequence |
|---|---|
| Funding | Limits program delivery and supports |
| Shortages / workload | Recruitment and retention challenges |
| Job insecurity | Instability for staff and continuity for students |
Union leaders also highlighted student safety and the capacity of schools to manage new technologies as immediate concerns needing policy attention.
Where this leaves provincial politics
The CSQ’s message arrives days before the formal start of the provincial campaign, positioning education as a litmus test for political parties. By urging parties to acknowledge systemic problems candidly, the union is seeking public commitments to sustained reinvestment rather than short‑term fixes.
How parties respond — whether through platform promises, proposed funding plans or commitments to participate in a national conference — will shape debate in the weeks ahead and could influence voters with school‑age children or those working in education.
As schools return and campaign promises begin to surface, the union’s appeal sets the terms for a discussion that will centre on staffing, funding and long‑term planning for Quebec’s education system.
