Too many failures to continue his studies: a cégépien in difficulty denounces the rules

Archival Photo Daniel Mallard
Charles McKenna has recently learned that he won’t be able to continue his studies, since he has been suspended for the winter semester 2018 with the result of a too large number of failures.

Daphnée Dion-Viens

Wednesday, 24 January 2018 19:30

UPDATE
Wednesday, 24 January 2018 19:30

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A student with multiple learning disabilities denounces the regulations in place that prevent him to continue his studies at cegep, the result of many failures.

Charles McKenna was able to obtain his high school diploma in spite of a dysphasia-severe, associated with apraxia and dyspraxia. It is registered since last winter in the technical management of graphic communications at cégep Beauce-Appalaches.

It has, however, recently learned that he may not continue his studies because he has been suspended for the winter semester 2018 with the result of a too large number of failures. During the last session, the student failed three courses out of five.

According to the rules in place at the cégep Beauce-Appalaches, which are similar to those in effect in other colleges, a student is suspended for a session if he fails more than 50% of his / her courses during two successive sessions.

The young man of 18 years, regrets the situation and believes that this regulation is “ill-suited” to students with special needs like him, whose number has increased significantly in recent years in the cegep network.

“I’m motivated, I want to continue my studies, but I do not understand how it will help me me to pause during a session,” says Charles.

His mother, Catherine Thabet, believes that this regulation is “completely stupid”. “We don’t penalize someone who wants to succeed, even if he has more difficulty,” she says. Charles has not missed any classes, complied with all the requirements of the college and works hard at home with the help of a teacher in private, ” says Thabet.

“Totally inappropriate,”

For his part, Jean-François Roberge, a member of the Coalition avenir Québec, also considers that this regulation is “completely inappropriate” in this context. “I have the impression that it applies a disciplinary sanction for a reason academic”, lance-t-il.

It is an administrative measure “entirely correct” for students who do not take their studies seriously, just the opposite of Charles, which is a source of “inspiration” to other young people who have the same difficulties, ” said Mr. Roberge.

The same rules for all

To the direction of studies at the cégep Beauce-Appalaches Sylvie Rancourt argues, however, that the regulation should apply to all students, regardless of disability or level of effort invested. Even if all the aid measures have been put in place, “the achievement belongs to the student, not the school or the parents,” she said.

“It is necessary that the student understands that there may be consequences to failure,” says Ms. Rancourt. This will allow him to walk personally, he wonders if this is the right program for him, and if he has the ability to succeed in college. These issues need to be asking.”

The ministry of Education, it is stated that the colleges have the obligation to establish such regulations that provide for “limits to the level of the number of failed courses in order to guide struggling students to student services for help in their journey.”