MONTREAL - Popping champagne is a graduation ritual for students who complete Grade 11 in Quebec but the Lester B. Pearson School Board wants to defer that celebration at some of its schools by adding a 12th Grade.
Board president Marcus Tabachnick says that the idea of offering the option of attending grade 12 has been considered for years and would help alleviate chronic overcrowding from the CEGEP system.
The CEGEP system, unique to Quebec, sees students attend 11 years of high school, two years of CEGEP and three years of university. Outside of the province, students attend 12 years of elementary, middle and high school followed by four years of university.
It is unclear whether Quebec students who complete grade 12 within a Lester B. Pearson school would be eligible to enrol in a Quebec university such as Concordia or McGill.
The board says that it would not require provincial approval to commence offering grade 12 at its high schools, however the extra year would likely cost parents.
Under the current system, the costs of grade 12 would not be paid for by the province.
A grade 12 option currently exists at the Lester B. Pearson School Board but it is only available to international students.
Tabachnik has not revealed specific information concerning how many schools would be affected or when exactly his plan could be enacted.
