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On the day before the start of the new school year for thousands of students, Education Minister Bernard Drainville said there are still 1,829 teaching positions that need to be filled in the public school network.
The figure contrasts significantly with the one disclosed by the minister last week, when Drainville generated confusion and panic by saying 8,558 teaching positions needed to be filled in elementary and secondary schools.
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The minister said Monday that the data “evolves continuously.” He also clarified that a vacancy does not mean that a teacher is missing in a class.
Last week, he had been unable to ensure that there would be an “adult” in each class at the start of the school year.
“I would like (…) to greet and warmly thank the staff of the 72 school service centres (…) who are working hard,” Drainville wrote in a press release on Monday.
“Your work has significantly reduced the number of vacancies. Despite the great challenge posed by the labour shortage, I am confident that the picture will improve further.
“In addition to existing measures, our government will continue to work on new solutions to address this shortage,” he added.
Of the remaining 1,829 positions, 334 are regular full-time positions and 1,495 are part-time positions. Drainville said he received the numbers Monday morning.
Sixty-nine school service centres participated in the collection of information.
‘We need you’: Drainville pleads for teachers’ help amid shortage
