Daycare worker union 'worried' about Quebec's plan to hire staff who complete 90-hour training
The union representing the majority of Quebec's daycare workers is criticizing the government's decision to launch a skimpy 90-hour training program for people who want to be childcare workers but have no prior experience.
Stephanie Vachon, who represents about 12,000 daycare workers for the CSN, acknowledges there is a shortage of daycare workers in Quebec.
But she said that giving aspiring daycare workers so little training before giving them a job will simply help fill daycares with unqualified workers.
"We're worried," she said, "we're really worried because we think it's not a good idea."
A job posting looking for a "trainer" was sent out by CEGEP Marie-Victorin for a course that is supposed to start on June 5. CTV obtained a copy of the posting.
The description said the class "is designed for people who are unemployed or have no professional experience in childcare."
It explained that an instructor would be tasked with teaching students "the basic notions essential for working and quickly taking up jobs as unqualified early childhood educators (0-5 years)."
BAND-AID SOLUTION
Vachon described the plan as a type of band-aid solution that will create new problems and said the union told the government as much last year when the idea was first floated.
"How can you replace three years by 90 hours?" Vachon said.
"The basic training, it's official and it's recognized, it's a profession — it's three years of technical college studies. And it must remain so."
Daycare workers are already stretched thin. If they're provided with unskilled helpers, they will have to do "double" the work, she said, monitoring the children and monitoring their lesser-trained colleagues.
Most of all, she and her colleagues are worried that the fast-track course, 90 hours over four weeks, as detailed on a government website, will devalue the profession after they worked so hard to have their expertise recognized.
Vachon, an early childhood educator herself in a CPE (Centre de la petite enfance), pointed out they are not babysitters; rather they're responsible for the children's development usually over several years.
It is possible, as the government is hoping, that once on the job, the fast-tracked candidate will seek out the proper training if they enjoy the environment, she said, and that would be a positive development, but there's no guarantee.
In the meantime, Vachon, who has known about the limited scope of the program for months, is concerned this quick-fix approach to filling jobs with unskilled workers will become a permanent trend.
Vachon said they've had no communication with the government on the subject since they voiced their disapproval last year.
In response to the union's concerns, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Families told CTV News that indeed the program "has been deployed as part of Operation Manpower."
It is not meant to turn out qualified educators, but rather to "prepare individuals for positions as unqualified early childhood educators (and) educational assistants," Bryan St-Louis said in an email.
It is open to anyone who is "at least 18 years old and has successfully completed Secondary 3," he said, adding that the training focuses on educational approaches and safety and also includes training in first-aid.
1/4 OF TEACHERS ARE NOT FULLY QUALIFIED
In a recent report, Quebec's auditor general said more than one-quarter of teachers who worked in the province's classrooms during the 2020-21 school year weren't legally qualified.
Guylaine Leclerc revealed that more than 30,000 people who taught in schools during that period did not earn a teaching certificate or a provisional qualification.
The Quebec government has said it turns to uncertified people to teach in schools because of a shortage of qualified teachers.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.