Estates General on Education
Quebec schools according to student’s parents
parentalvoice.education
Rethinking the future of our school together
Why Estates General on Education?
For several years, calls have been increasing for a major collective reflection on the future of education in Quebec. Parents, teachers, school principals, professionals, support staff, administrators, researchers and organizations in the education sector want to review the foundations and major directions of our education system.
Quebec has changed considerably since the last Estates General on Education, held in 1995-1996. Family realities, students’ needs, technology, and expectations of schools have evolved. The school system also faces significant challenges: student success, equal opportunities, access to and quality of services, staff shortages, funding, and the state of infrastructure.
Over the years, changes and new responsibilities have been added without us really taking the time to collectively ask ourselves what we expect from our school and where we want to propel it.
Estates General on Education are an opportunity to take a step back, review our priorities and define a common vision for education for the coming decades.
This reflection should not only focus on current problems, but also on the kind of school we want to build for future generations in Quebec.
Parents at the heart of the discussion
The parental voice
Parents experience the realities of their children’s schooling every day. Their concrete experiences, concerns, and aspirations must contribute to shaping the school of tomorrow. The Regroupement des comités de parents autonomes du Québec (RCPAQ) is committed to representing parents’ voices in this important discussion about the future of education.
With parentalvoice.education, the RCPAQ is taking the initiative to consult widely with parents of students in Quebec, in all their diversity. This process includes a broad online consultation, as well as meetings with parents from across Quebec. Some meetings will address major educational issues, while others will focus on specific realities, particularly those of students with special needs.
The initiative also includes the task of compiling, analyzing, and synthesizing testimonies, research, reports, memoirs, and position papers that reflect the parents’ perspective. This work will bring together existing reflections on their role in their children’s education, their participation in school life, and their place within the education system.
This approach will allow for the development of an informed, relevant, and nuanced understanding of the expectations, concerns, and aspirations of Quebec parents. The RCPAQ will rigorously and convincingly represent this parental voice so that it actively contributes to the discussions, directions, and decisions that will shape the future of education in Quebec.
Exploring the major challenges of education
Six key questions to consider together about the future of our school
Based on the reflections, concerns, and proposals expressed by various stakeholders in education, we have identified six main areas of focus. These will allow us to address the major questions about the future of Quebec schools, this time from the parents’ perspective, to amplify their voices and contribute to the collective discussion to come.
What kind of school do we want?
What should his mission be?
And what responsibilities do we want to entrust to him?
What do we want students to learn?
What knowledge, skills, values and common references
must be present throughout their journey?
How can we promote the success of all students while taking into account the needs and realities of each individual?
Fairness, selection, special programs, private,
specific needs, different paths.
How should responsibilities be distributed?
Schools, families, government, public services and society.
How to adapt the network to today and tomorrow’s Quebec?
Demographics, technologies, AI, infrastructure,
staff shortages, changing family and social environments.
How can we ensure the stability of our school while also allowing it to progress?
Governance, financing, autonomy, consultation
and long-term vision.
An accessible and flexible approach
One online consultation, three ways to participate
Because every parent has a different experience to share, as well as varying amounts of time and interest to dedicate to this reflection, parentalvoice.education offers three options. Whether you simply wish to express a concern, give your opinion on major educational trends, or delve deeper into the issues, you can contribute in your own way.
01
Share your toughts
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes
Do you have an idea, a concern, a success, or simply something to tell us? This option allows you to express yourself freely in just a few minutes.
02
My overall views
Duration: Approximately 10 minutes
Fifteen quick questions allow you to position yourself on the major issues facing Quebec schools.
03
have your say in depth
Duration: 25 minutes or more
Want to go further? This comprehensive option allows you to deepen your reflection on the major issues facing Quebec schools, to clarify your expectations and to propose avenues for the future.
The three options are complementary, and your participation can evolve. You can start with a brief comment and then choose to delve deeper into the subject. Your profile and answers to common questions are saved to facilitate the transition from one option to another, without having to start all over again.
This flexibility allows everyone to participate according to their availability, while also having the opportunity to go further. Regardless of the path chosen, each contribution enriches the discussion and helps to build a diverse, informed, and representative parental voice.
Parents, our voice will help shape the future of education!
The future of education concerns all parents, regardless of their children’s educational background, their experience, or their level of involvement in the education system. Every perspective matters, including those that challenge conventional wisdom or current trends.
You can contribute to this initiative by completing the online consultation, participating in meetings organized by the RCPAQ in your region, or sharing your experiences, thoughts, and suggestions. You can also spread the word about this initiative, so it may reach as many parents as possible.
To follow the progress of the process, learn about upcoming activities and stay informed about initiatives in your region, visit the RCPAQ website and follow us on social media.
It’s not just about saying what works or what should change, but about reflecting together on what we want for the future of our school. It is by bringing together a diversity of perspectives that we can make the parental voice a strong and constructive contribution to the future of education in Quebec.