Quebec plans new bill to enhance school secularism

Quebec's Education Minister Bernard Drainville plans to introduce a new bill aimed at enhancing secularism in schools. He shared this news in a video on social media. Premier François Legault supports this initiative, stating that secularism in schools is essential and will not be compromised. This effort follows a troubling incident at a Montreal elementary school last fall, which involved conflicts between Muslim and non-Muslim teachers. Reports surfaced about a negative environment at Bedford Elementary School, resulting in the suspension of 11 teachers. An investigation revealed that many of these teachers, primarily from North Africa, had created a hostile atmosphere for students and staff. The government report indicated that these teachers often yelled at students and neglected important subjects like science and sex education. Girls, in particular, were not allowed to participate in soccer. In addition, an inquiry into 17 other schools found that while few violations of the secularism law occurred, some teachers were altering their lesson plans to avoid offending religious beliefs. Drainville expressed his concern about the findings, stating that such incidents do not reflect the true nature of Quebec's schools. He emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining a secular educational environment. In recent developments, the Quebec government has formed a new committee to explore further measures to strengthen secularism. This includes potential restrictions on public prayer. Minister Jean-François Roberge mentioned that the committee will investigate the presence of religious influences in public institutions and will evaluate ways to limit public displays of prayer, especially during protests.