As the upcoming school year approaches alongside an impending provincial election campaign, Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) President Éric Gingras has publicly called on political parties to acknowledge that “it is not going well” in education, citing funding problems, staffing shortages, and mounting resource pressures.
The Bottom Line
- Systemic Strain: The CSQ highlights that educational budgets have not followed inflation or the costs of the system over the last two years, leading to cuts for professional and support personnel.
- Staffing Deficits: Specialized support networks face vacancies, including hundreds of missing special education technicians and educators in school settings, as well as professionals such as speech-language pathologists and psychologists.
- Special Needs Surge: Student populations with special needs have expanded, rising from around 180,000 in 2016–2017 to 250,000 in 2024–2025.
The Financial and Structural Realities of Quebec Schools
With educational institutions preparing to open their doors, union leadership convened in Montreal to outline the mounting pressures facing primary and secondary facilities. According to the CSQ, the network is grappling with intersecting crises involving funding problems, job precarity, heavy workloads, and problems with staff attraction and retention. These structural deficits are further compounded by infrastructure challenges, questions of school violence, and the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence into classrooms, according to reporting by Journal HCN.
Richard Bergevin, president of the Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement, noted that in the last two years, budgets in education have not followed inflation or the costs of the system. While core teaching positions are typically maintained because teachers are needed in the classroom, support personnel and specialized professionals have experienced cuts, according to Noovo Info. A consultation of teachers last year indicated that two to three students per class lacked the necessary acquisitions for their level, which can lead to academic delays and school dropout.
Here is the math on the staffing shortfall. Data presented by Éric Pronovost, president of the Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire, revealed that as of April, Quebec schools faced a deficit of 612 special education technicians and 888 educators in school settings. Concurrently, Caroline Desmarais, president of the Fédération du personnel professionnel de l’éducation, reported 500 fewer members in 2025, leaving unreplaced absences, vacant positions, and a heavier workload for remaining staff.
| Category / Metric | Historical Baseline | Recent Figures |
|---|---|---|
| Students with Special Needs | ~180,000 (2016–2017) | 250,000 (2024–2025) |
| Support Staff Vacancies (April) | — | 612 technicians, 888 educators |
| Professional Membership Change | — | -500 members (2025) |
Political Posturing Versus Policy Reform
The timing of the union’s demands coincides with the threshold of a provincial election cycle, placing public sector financing squarely in the political spotlight. When asked during the Montreal press conference which political party possesses the requested “courage” to address these systemic issues, Mr. Gingras indicated that political actors are currently courting union stakeholders but have yet to demonstrate concrete commitments. As reported by Noovo Info, Mr. Gingras stated, «c’est une période où les partis politiques nous font tous un petit peu la cour. Ils sont toujours plus faciles à parler, à être écouté. Maintenant, est-ce qu’on va être entendu? Je n’ai pas de parti politique qui sont plus à l’écoute que d’autres. Je vous dirais que le fait de pouvoir les rencontrer, c’est une chose. Maintenant, on attend la campagne électorale et on sera en mesure de commenter».
In response to these persistent challenges, the CSQ continues to press for the establishment of states general on education. This summit would bring together stakeholders from the network to establish an education plan for the next 15 to 20 years. Union leadership points out that the last great reflection on education dates back to 1995.
Macroeconomic Context and Future Outlook
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
