Education reform is hurting students: teachers

Quebec's largest teachers union wants Education Minister Jean-Marc Fournier to put the brakes on the province's education reform plan before it is applied to high school students.

The union says most teachers believe the reforms are hurting student performance in the primary years.

Since 2000, the government has introduced a number of changes to the education system to try to improve student success.

But to come up with their own evaluation, the Fédération des syndicats des enseignants et enseignantes ordered a Léeger Marketing survey to gauge teachers' impressions of the reform.

"They believe the reform didn't have any positive effect on students' success," said Alec Larose, who speaks for the federation.

The Léger survey shows more than 80 per cent of teachers with at least nine years of experience believe the reform has had either a negative effect or no effect at all on performance.

Among the changes is the removal of grades one through six. Instead, children go through cycles one, two and three. Children stay with the same group and the same teachers over a two-year period.

The new curriculum is designed to tap into children's strengths, such as art or music, and let them use these talents to learn.

Larose says the FSE wants the minister to slow down implementation so changes can be made.

"We have to know what's going on at the elementary level before we continue on in the secondary," he argues.

Similarly far-reaching reforms are due to be introduced at the Grade 8 level starting next year.

The FSE represents approximately 60,000 teachers in Quebec.