The CAQ wants the Couillard government to get children in school earlier and keep them there longer.
Leader Francois Legault wants a pre-K program available to every four-year-old child in Quebec.
“I’m asking Mr. Couillard to put that in place starting next year over a period of five years. It's about time we invest in education,” he said.
Legault says it would help identify children with learning difficulties earlier so they receive services to help them earlier.
PQ Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau says Legault's proposal isn't a new one.
“Four-years-old was a proposal of the Parti Quebecois. We really believe in this. And we've always said that socialization as early as possible will be one of the good tools that we should use,” he said.
The Liberals have already introduced 90 pre-K classes. Education Minister Sebastien Proulx says he'll be announcing 70 more in the weeks to come...but the program is only offered in underprivileged neighbourhoods.
That's not good enough for Legault, who's also pushing to keep kids in school until 18. Right now, at 16, teens are legally free to stop going to school.
“I think that children under 18, their place – if they don't have a diploma – should be in school,” he said.
The CAQ has made education a party priority in the lead up to the next election in 2018.
