Press release
The education system needs predictability, not surprises 

Open letter – Coalition of Education Partners 

The next few days will mark the start of a new school year. This is a pivotal moment in the lives of our young people, hundreds of thousands of families, and the staff working in the system. Everyone is working hard to make sure the start of the year goes smoothly. But at what cost? We ask this question in all seriousness. 

It is impossible to begin this new school year without revisiting the saga of budget cuts announced at the start of the summer. 

On the one hand, the government’s partial retreat does nothing to resolve the problems already facing the system. What’s more, the conditions tied to these reinstated investments, such as increased reporting requirements and tighter administrative measures, only deepen the lack of predictability in the system’s funding and hinder strategic planning. If this is true for the year ahead, it is even more so for the medium and long term. 

One thing is clear to us: the education system must be given greater predictability. 

When will we see consistent, predictable investments in education that are not subject, year after year, to the whims of budgets and political agendas? 

Budget predictability is not a bureaucratic luxury: it is a basic requirement for ensuring the consistency, continuity, and quality of educational services. We ask a great deal of our schools, yet they are not given the means to deliver. 

This uncertainty creates unnecessary stress for school teams and drains valuable energy. It undermines confidence and effectiveness across the system. Staff bear the brunt of it and students pay the price, when they should be at the heart of all decisions. 

Last June, the response to the announced cuts was swift and strong. Countless voices spoke out against these senseless decisions. The pressure was intense, the government felt the opposition of the population, and that is what forced it to back down. But how did we get here? 

For a government that bends to public opinion and has repeatedly declared education a priority, how is it possible that it fails to grasp the full importance of education for Quebecers? 

Not only are cuts to education simply unacceptable, but investments must be maintained at a level commensurate with actual needs, consistently, year after year. 

Yes, this government has invested in education, but not nearly enough to keep pace with the growing number of young people in our schools or to meet the needs of students with learning difficulties. Nor has it addressed the poor state of many schools and centers. After years of cutbacks and austerity, the damage is real and palpable. 

Let’s stop playing with words and numbers: reducing investment is cutting. Education deserves better. 

We call on the government today to reaffirm the central role of education in our society, to move beyond short-term, day-to-day management, and to commit to real predictability for our system. This is a matter of trust, vision, and leadership. 

Education is a social contract, one that guarantees equal opportunity. It is a fundamental pillar of our society, a promise made to every child, every family, every generation. Yet year after year, our education system is forced to operate in a climate of budget uncertainty, dictated by political whims and short-term choices, weakening the entire system. This is what we denounce today, with one voice. We must do things differently, for our young people, for their parents, and for the future of Quebec.