(December 2) Public Gathering at Education Minister Marie Malavoy & Bernard Drainville’s “Rencontre Citoyenne”

Marie Malavoy and Bernard Drainville in Longueuil this Monday for a “Citizen’s Meeting”

EDUCATION FOR ALL!
Public Gathering at Education Minister Marie Malavoy’s “Rencontre Citoyenne”
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 6pm (sharp!)
at 1000 boulevard Rolland-Therrien (Longueuil)
map and public transport: http://goo.gl/maps/DrKWN

-> If you can attend this gathering, please let us know at solidaritesansfrontieres@gmail.com
-> If you can help with transportation (access to a car) get in touch as well.
-> Please get in touch about any accessibility needs.
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The Collectif education sans frontières (CESF) is calling for a public gathering at the upcoming “Rencontre Citoyenne” by Education Minister Marie Malavoy in Longueuil. The public event (“an activity open to all”) will also include Bernard Drainville, the Minister responsible for the proposed Charter of Values (Bill 60). The invitation for Minister Malavoy’s event is linked here: http://mariemalavoy.com/sites/mariemalavoy.com/files/image/affiche_pour_internet_activite_charte_02-12-13.png

Marie Malavoy still refuses to issue clear Ministry of Education directives to allow non-status children to attend primary and secondary school for free. Instead, there remains confusion and ambiguity about whether non-status children can register (with differences between school boards) and Minister Malavoy still insists on charging $5000-$6000 per child, an exorbitant fee for non-status families who are already precarious economically.

The Collectif education sans frontières’ objections with current Ministry of Education directives are summarized here: www.solidarityacrossborders.org/en/enfants-sans-papiers-declaration-du-collectif-education-sans-frontieres-au-sujet-des-directives-du-ministere-de-leducation

Quebec remains the only jurisdiction in North America that systematically excludes non-status children from free access to primary and secondary schools. For example, children in the same situation all over the United States are able to attend primary and secondary schools for free.

Marie Malavoy has also refused to discuss this issue publicly. Both Radio-Canada and the Montreal Gazette, as well as other media, have done detailed reports about the injustice facing non-status children in Quebec, but Malavoy has refused to speak to the media about this issue.

(The Radio-Canada report, “Des élèves de l’ombre,” is linked here: www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/telejournal/2012-2013/Reportage.asp?idDoc=292085&autoPlay=; the Montreal Gazette article, “Undocumented youths’ backs are against the school wall,” is linked here: www.montrealgazette.com/news/Undocumented+youths+backs+against+school+wall/8940642/story.html; a compilation of media articles is available here: www.solidarityacrossborders.org/en/revue-des-medias-collectif-education-sans-frontieres.)

The Collectif education sans frontières has also taken a clear position against the Charter, and has endorsed the following statement by the Coalition “Ensemble contre la Chartre xenophobe”: www.solidarityacrossborders.org/en/community-statement-“ensemble-contre-la-charte-xenophobe”-together-against-the-xenophobic-charter

The Collectif education sans frontières encourages our allies and supporters to attend this gathering in large numbers.

– Collectif education sans frontières
solidaritesansfrontieres@gmail.com
www.solidarityacrossborders.org