French classes are a hit in the Eastern Townships. But a funding cap means they'll soon be cancelled

When Riham Mohamed first moved to Quebec 11 months ago, she could only say hello and thank you in French.

Going shopping was a struggle and making friends, nearly impossible. But three months ago, things changed when she became one of hundreds of adult students taking full-time free French classes through the Eastern Townships School Board.

"Now at least I can understand most of [the] discussions going around me," said Mohamed.

"I can make friends, I can go to hospital without needing any help. My French is not really good but at least I can live."

But come November, the board will be forced to put an end to the popular program due to a lack of funding.

The province has capped funding for French-language courses in the adult sector, says Eastern Townships School Board chairman Michael Murray.

Murray says the province is fixing the funding at 2021 levels — when there were just 25 students in the program.

He's now pleading for the funds to maintain the program offered at its schools, which he says address "the very real need" of immigrants and other new arrivals in the region.

Enrolment and interest spiked in 3 years

While the board has looked for alternatives, Murray says frustration is increasing.

"We were basically stonewalled by the individuals that we approached in the Ministry of Education," said Murray.

He says he only found out about the change in July.

"By mid-September, we had exhausted the budget for the full year and we're now continuing to operate the program using funds that we're kind of borrowing, I guess you would say, from other objectives," he said.

He says it would take several hundred thousand dollars to continue the program, which now has more than 400 students.

'We are their support system'

The board was counting on being reimbursed for the costs of expanding the program. Now, Murray says they don't have enough funds to pursue courses past Nov. 25.

"It's just heartbreaking for us who are mandated to to operate a program of this kind and for the people that are involved," said Murray.

"We become far more than simply a place to go to learn French. We are their support system."

Mohamed says students have become close friends, forming a "family from different cultures."

"At first we didn't know each other, we can't speak the same language," said Mohamed. "But with French, finally we are friends."

Fellow student Shirin Salehi says come November she might be forced to pay for classes or move outside Quebec for work.

Originally from Iran, Salehi set her sights on Quebec's Eastern Townships and six months ago started to take the full-time French classes which have been paying off.

"I couldn't speak even a word in French," said Salehi.

In mere months, she noticed her French improving, but now has to think of her plan B.

"It's so important for us to learn it because without it we cannot improve in our life, in our job," she said. "Maybe I will have to move."

Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville and Minister of the French Language Jean-François Roberge did not respond to a request for comment from CBC News.