The New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) has come out strongly against a provincial government proposal to extend the French language charter to adult learners in the vocational training and education sectors.
According to French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge, a move to restrict access to programs in English public schools to those with eligibility could redirect up to 27,000 students from these programs to the French system.
Adult and vocational training programs are currently exempt from the charter which limits enrollment in English primary and secondary schools. The introduction of legislation of this kind would have immediate and potentially devastating impacts across the network of English school boards.
“Some school boards would be affected to the point that they would probably have to close their centre. Then for other school boards, like us, it could have anywhere from a 40-per cent or more negative impact in terms of the students coming to us,” said NFSB director general Mike Helm.
“It is not just the fact that those students are gone. We may not be able to run the programs, and then we would not be able to have our own students taking the course,” Helm explained, noting the programs currently rely on a mix of eligible English-speaking and French-speaking students to form viable cohorts.
For NFSB Council of Commissioners chair John Ryan, the government’s move is deeply concerning. “I never thought this would happen where we’d have a worry. When you start peeling away at this, my goodness, what a mess we have,” he lamented.
The two administrators issued a letter to all NFSB families on May 26, warning of broader consequences if this bill is introduced and passed. They argue that while framed to preserve the French language, the bill would negatively impact the Quebec economy.
English vocational programs are crucial for training individuals in high-demand fields. Graduates from the NFSB’s programs are often bilingual and find work quickly. Immigrants and newcomers to Quebec who face challenges in the French education system often find success in English programs. “They are not a loophole,” they said. “They are well-established public education pathways that help adult learners complete high school, obtain prerequisites for vocational training or CEGEP, retrain for new careers, enter the workforce with recognized qualifications and support their families and communities.”
According to Helm and Ryan, restricting access could also create barriers for adult learners, especially those in rural or isolated regions. These include longer travel distances, fewer program options, longer waiting lists, language-readiness issues, and the loss of support services. Some students, they argue, may simply decide to abandon their studies altogether.
The National Assembly’s spring session is scheduled to conclude on June 12. It is unclear whether the bill will be introduced before the summer recess and fall election period. Despite this, Helm and Ryan have asked NFSB families to contact local MNAs, mayors, community leaders, and decision-makers to ask that they intervene now, before this bill goes any further.