Concerns raised about rate of absenteeism in Quebec schools
There are concerns about absenteeism in Quebec schools as it seems a growing number of students just aren't showing up for class.
According to La Presse, the education ministry's statistics show that in the first week of April,
9.5 per cent of students in public elementary and secondary schools were absent — almost as many as during the pandemic.
"The fact that children are missing school goes together with motivation, goes together with mental health issues," Katherine Korakakis, president of the English Parents' Committee Association, told CTV News.
In January, the association conducted a survey on students' well-being and quality of life and received responses from 14,000 parents.
"The top things that we saw was motivation and mental health being a very key factor that parents were identifying," Korakakis said.
Public health experts who worked on the survey calculated what they call "quality of life." They say a score of 100 is considered "excellent" but the average score for Quebec students was just 64 per cent, which korakakis believes is what's leading to the rise in absenteeism.
"There needs to be a concerted effort from all educational stakeholders to address this serious rise in mental health issues with children," she said.
In an email to CTV News, the Lester B. Pearson School Board said it is "very aware of the issue of student absenteeism and we are taking a proactive approach in terms of addressing the issue. In the school board’s commitment to success plan, one of our objectives is to reduce these absences by 10 per cent by the 2026-2027 school year. This is part of our plan to improve effectiveness at meeting the academic needs of diverse learners."
Korakakis says efforts need to be made now for vulnerable students.
"The educational stakeholders have to come together and it has to be led by the government to say, 'We prioritize this, this is an issue, let's do something about it,'" she said.
When asked about the increase in student absenteeism, the education minister said Tuesday that ultimately it's up to parents to decide if children are well enough to be in class.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
BREAKING 15-year-old boy stabbed Thursday in Nepean dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Mexican authorities say thieves killed 2 Australians and an American to steal their truck
Thieves killed two Australians and an American on a surfing trip to Mexico in order to steal their truck, particularly because they wanted the tires, authorities said Sunday.