Overcrowded schools in Montreal

JEAN-FRANCOIS DESGAGNES/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC/QMI AGENCY

QMI agency

Tuesday, 29 August, 2017 14:52

UPDATE
Tuesday, 29 August, 2017 14:57

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In this week of back-to-school, the problem of overcrowding in some schools of Montreal is very present.

This is the case of the école Saints-Martyrs-Canadians in the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, where for lack of space, the authority has taken the decision to build a second building to accommodate the students.

With the arrival of all these students, the library had to be abolished this year, the books are so scattered throughout the classrooms.

The local specialists have also had to be combined.

The example of the école Saints-Martyrs-Canadians is not unique. This is the case for many other schools of the Commission scolaire de Montréal.

Approximately 1300 more students expected this year cause so many logistical problems.

“From 2005-2006, Quebecers have begun to have more children, and it is certain that for Montreal, there is also the effect of immigration. This is not uncommon today to have families of three or four children. It is all of these factors together that increase the customer,” said Catherine Harel Bourdon, president of the Commission scolaire de Montréal.

For many schools, there are no other solutions than to build new buildings, or even to make the place at the same school, even if it means sacrificing certain classes, such as music classes, for example.

It is also not ruled out sending French-language students in local English-language institutions that are under-populated.