École branchée has leafed through (digitally) for you the 2023-2024 budget for Quebec tabled yesterday by the Minister of Finance, Éric Girard. Here is what we found that mainly concerns education and digital.
After the announcement of major tax cuts for individuals, education is the second priority Quebec government's budgetunder the title "Developing the Full Potential of Youth".
Education has been, and continues to be, the cornerstone of our society's development. The government has made education its top priority.
Specifically, the government's action will focus on the following key directions to increase educational success:
- revalorize the teaching of French, reading and mathematics;
- offer more specific projects and make them more accessible;
- invest in professional training;
- support teachers;
- promote graduation in higher education.
As part of the 2023-2024 budget, $2.3 billion in investments are planned over six years to develop the potential of youth, including:
- 1.5 billion to help young people succeed;
- 88 million to get Quebecers moving;
- 717 million to support access, retention and graduation in higher education.
Increase the literacy and numeracy skills of youth
"The negative effects of the pandemic have led to a decline in skills, primarily literacy among youth. Learning French is a lifelong asset for students. It represents a vehicle for learning that serves all disciplines and therefore, a springboard to graduation."
The government is therefore implementing the following actions:
- support for students who have difficulties in French by setting up a tutoring platform;
- the addition of educational advisors to support elementary and secondary school teachers;
- the addition of literary works in schools, including the purchase of Quebec books by teachers;
- financial support to develop students' taste for reading.
Improving the performance of the school system
"Improving the performance of Quebec's education system as a whole requires the use of data for learning and the potential offered by digital technology. It is important to exploit all the possibilities for the benefit of student success and better management of the Quebec education system.
It must also be based on an efficient school network that promotes the sharing of resources and the consolidation of services, as well as on agile school governance, which translates into an effective network and ministry.
As part of the 2023-2024 budget, $173.7 million in investments are planned through 2027-2028 to support data access and digital transformation in the education system.
In particular, the government wants to leverage data in education to enable all stakeholders to make better-informed decisions. Investments will be made in the digital management of the network. These investments will include migrating the network to cloud computing and strengthening the cyber security posture. The Ministry of Education will also work "to implement a new management model focused on monitoring the educational performance of the education system.
Finally, "the continuing digital shift in schools offers young people new ways to learn, communicate, share, create and collaborate."
In bulk
- The development of a complementary online educational service offer for students with difficulties and their parents.
- Investments to support the sharing of resources and services across school organizations, including the development of tools, webinars, trainings and guides.
- The continuation of the elementary classroom aids pilot project, in addition to doubling the number of schools piloting this project from 100 to 200.
- Investments to ensure that the vocational training centers have technological equipment that keeps pace with the evolution of the tools used in the labor market.
- The development of a digital cultural passport for young people to allow them to access Quebec cultural goods and services at an advantageous cost and thus be more in touch with Quebec culture.
- The gradual implementation of the Culture and Citizenship of Quebec program starting in the 2023-2024 school year. (see the article by Daphné Dion-Viens in Le Journal de Québec)
"Quality education services contribute to the collective enrichment of Quebec. Our government's objective is to offer our young people an educational path that meets their potential. We are investing so that they have all the necessary tools to achieve their ambitions."
Eric Girard, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers
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