By Canadian Press

Quebec boards say they have more classes than teachers as kids return to school

Aug 29, 2019 | 2:02 PM

MONTREAL — As thousands of Quebec students return to class this week, school boards say they’re short of teachers to educate them.

Gina Guillemette, a spokeswoman for the Montreal-area Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board, says the board was still missing about 40 full-time teachers on the first day of school.

She says substitutes are being enlisted in the meantime, but the shortage means some classrooms won’t have the same teacher all year long.

Guillemette said her board is working hard to hire new teachers and is urging the provincial government to take strong action to help with recruitment and retraining of those who wish to enter the field.

Sonia Ethier, the president of one of the province’s largest teachers’ unions, says the number of students is expected to rise by 65,000 in the next five years while the number of teaching school graduates is declining.

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She told reporters today that poor salaries and working conditions, a higher number of special needs students, retirements and burnout have combined to create what she describes as a looming crisis.

The Canadian Press