Quebec Schools Face Shortage of Over 4,000 Teachers as Year Begins

Quebec is facing a significant challenge as the school year approaches, with 4,115 teaching positions still unfilled, according to Education Minister Bernard Drainville. With just over two weeks until the start of the term, the province is striving to address this shortage, which is a marked improvement compared to previous years when as many as 6,000 teachers were missing at this time.

Drainville announced that 96 percent of classrooms currently have a teacher, a statistic he believes reflects the positive impact of agreements made with teachers’ unions two years ago. These agreements mandated earlier assignments for teachers, which has facilitated recruitment efforts. “It’s good news, first for the students, then the parents and obviously for the school teams and teachers,” he stated during a press briefing.

Despite the progress, Drainville acknowledged that the education system in Quebec still grapples with challenges. He highlighted ongoing efforts to improve the situation, including increased teacher salaries, the provision of additional support in primary classrooms, and the introduction of fast-track teacher certification programs.

While the overall number of unfilled positions is concerning, Drainville revealed that approximately 10 percent of the teachers hired for the upcoming year lack formal teaching diplomas. However, he noted that many of these individuals possess bachelor’s degrees in relevant subjects such as French, English, history, chemistry, or math.

The situation has raised concerns among educators, particularly from the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers. Association president Heidi Yetman expressed worry about the implications of hiring unqualified personnel. “One in ten teachers in Quebec is not a teacher,” she remarked, calling for a reassessment of how these individuals are labeled. Yetman acknowledged the efforts of these unqualified staff but emphasized that their lack of pedagogical training could adversely affect student learning outcomes.

While the reduction in open teaching positions is a step forward, Yetman believes it is essential to consider the overall context. She referred to the ongoing situation not merely as a teacher shortage but as a deeper “retention and recruitment crisis.” She explained that a substantial percentage of new teachers—between 20 to 30 percent—leave the profession within the first five years, indicating systemic issues related to working conditions and support.

Yetman criticized the government for recent cuts to the education budget, which totaled $570 million. She argued that blaming the education system for budgetary deficits is misguided and detrimental. Although the government has since allocated an additional $540 million to the education budget, it comes with stipulations that could impact how funds are utilized.

As for support staff, the number of positions needing to be filled remains unclear. Drainville confirmed that recruitment efforts are ongoing and promised that more data would be available by the end of August.

In summary, while Quebec has made progress in filling teaching positions, significant challenges remain. The landscape of education in the province continues to evolve, with efforts needed to ensure that both qualified teachers and adequate support staff are available to meet the needs of students.