Quebec college students may be in classes or exams over Christmas holiday: CEGEP president
College students in Quebec may be taking exams or even classes over the winter holidays, as administrators scramble to find ways to hold the required number of classes in a semester.
Federation of CEGEPs president Bernard Tremblay said that CEGEP students are required to be in class for 82 days per semester. With three strike days already on the books and more strike days coming, filling those that obligation is going to prove difficult.
"We have to look at ways to move the calendar in a direction so we can meet the requirement, which will mean going over Christmas," said Tremblay. "We're thinking of doing some classes after Christmas and even in January."
Cancelling classes is also a possibility, Tremblay said.
Quebec's largest English CEGEP, Dawson College, confirmed to CTV News that it would not hold classes or exams over Christmas break. The current plan is to add four class days to this semester after Dec. 14 (the last day of the strike) and for to begin exams on Jan. 8, a spokesperson said.
The CEGEP will be closed at the end of Friday, Dec. 22 and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
The Common Front, which includes unionized CEGEP staff, announced on Tuesday that seven days of strike action will start on Dec. 8 if no deal is reached.
Some CEGEPs also held student strikes this semester, which puts further stress on the schedule.
There is also the possibility, Tremblay said, that Higher Education Minister Pascale Dery could authorize a semester to be considered complete with fewer days, but that situation is not ideal as there is a reason a semester requires 82 days.
"It's because we think it's necessary for the students to have that time to absorb what they have to learn in that semester, so that would not be a good thing just to diminish the number of days that we have in the semester," said Tremblay.
In particular, for fields of study such as nursing, policing or trade programs, it is essential to have enough classes to teach all the material.
Tremblay said the minister is in communication with CEGEPs and understands the situation.
It is not the first time CEGEP administrators have had to deal with long pauses during a semester.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and 2012 student strikes, calendars had to be adjusted to complete semesters.
NO UNIFORM ANSWER
All CEGEPs have different student bodies, set-ups and schedules, so coming up with a uniform solution to exam periods and class schedules is no easy feat.
In addition, adjusting schedules could be extremely difficult for international students. Students from out-of-country at CEGEP de Matane, for example, make up almost half of the student body, and administrators there will need to consider whether it's legal to hold exams or classes in January, Tremblay said.
"In that case, you have to really think about the fact that for some students from other countries, the study permit has a length that has to be respected. Otherwise, they are in a difficult situation," he said.
Make-up days in January will affect the winter semester as well.
Finding an ideal situation is difficult for administrators as there is no guarantee that further strike action will not take place. On the other hand, negotiations could be fruitful, and Common Front members will not walk off the job next week.
"It's hard to say which scenario is the best, and that's part of the problem. We have to adjust to a situation that is still moving. There's not one good response to the situation."
Common Front negotiators are slated to meet Treasury Board president Sonia LeBel at 4 p.m.
The four member organizations - the CSN, APTS, FTQ and CSQ - represent around 420,000 workers in Quebec.
With reporting from CTV News Montreal journalist Olivia O'Malley.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been 'successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.'
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.