Rising Incidents of Sexual Misconduct Among Teachers: The Alarming Increase in Disciplinary Actions - A Comprehensive Report by The Newspaper

2023-09-06 04:00:00

In the first five months of the year, 20 teachers were disciplined for sexual misconduct, a considerable increase compared to previous years, found The newspaper.

• Read also: Report on sexual misconduct in schools: “Extremely concerned”, Minister Drainville promises to act quickly

• Read also: Sexual misconduct in the school environment: several shortcomings to be corrected to better protect students

According to figures recently released by the Ministry of Education, an average of ten teachers per year had their teaching license sanctioned or revoked following sexual acts, for the period from 2019 to 2021.

Last year, in 2022, this number climbed to 31, an increase that is not slowing down this year, quite the contrary. From January to May alone, 20 teachers found themselves in this situation (see detailed data below).

At the Ministry of Education, however, it is indicated that this increase “is not statistically significant since it is a handful if we refer to the number of teachers who have a valid teaching license”.

“It should not necessarily be seen as an upward trend,” said its spokesman, Bryan St-Louis.

There are approximately 90,000 qualified teachers in Quebec schools, holding one of the teaching licenses issued by Quebec.

The ministry, which cannot explain the increase observed since 2022, specifies that there has been no change in the process for handling files that could lead to these sanctions.

“Raise awareness”

At the Autonomous Federation of Education, its president Mélanie Hubert believes that the movement of denunciation #moiaussi could contribute to “awakening consciences”.

Several cases of sexual assault involving teachers or school staff have been publicized in recent months, which may also have led several people to report a questionable situation, she adds.

“The more we talk about it, the more it will probably lead people to denounce,” says Ms. Hubert, who is delighted with the situation.

The changes made recently in the context of the entry into office of the new National Student Ombudsman could also have made it possible to raise awareness in the school environment in this regard, she adds.

At the Federation of Teachers’ Unions, we see in these figures the proof that the mechanisms in place can work, when they are used well.

These mechanisms make it possible “not to leave people in the system who are not in their place”, indicates its president, Josée Scalabrini.

Following a complaint, it is the Minister of Education who decides whether or not the teaching authorization should be revoked. A teacher can have this authorization withdrawn even if there has been no conviction before the courts.

In the past six years, 56 school staff members have been convicted of acts of a sexual nature over the past six years, reported The newspaper last year.