The Minister of Education was not worried about unequal access to the digital dictionary during the unique French exam in fifth secondary, in Quebec. “It’s a situation that’s clear and doesn’t pose a problem with fairness,” Jean-François Roberge said.
In this test, which took place on Thursday, some students only had access to a paper dictionary to check their spelling, while others could use a digital dictionary with more features.
Despite the fears expressed by parents and teachers, in particular, the minister said he did not feel it too much ambiguity in the school network.
Mr. Roberge recalls that the rule is the same for everyone: only students who regularly use the digital dictionary during entrance can use it during a single French exam.
” In pedagogy, what is really privileged, it is to have during the examination the same tools as what is there during the courses, during the teaching. “
A shame
A French teacher with more than 20 years of experience is far from sharing the opinion of the Minister of Education. According to Johanne (fictitious name), who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, the digital dictionary is an extension of the inequalities that already exist in the network.
According to his own experience, it is the most profitable schools and school service centers, where the deployment of technological tools is the most advanced, benefiting from this tool on the largest scale .
Students [des écoles privées] use a digital corrector, as our students have to turn to an often outdated dictionary […] and a Bescherelle, and this, during the examination where time is paramountdescribed by Johanne.
” Is this a uniform proof? A shame. “
At the Center de services scolaire de la Capitale, in Quebec, no entire group was able to use a digital dictionary last Thursday. The communication consultant, Marie-Claude Lavoie, also mentioned the technological barriers to explaining the situation.
The digital dictionary is accessible online and the Internet is prohibited during the reviews [ministère] unless you have a device monitoring and control system, which we don’t have […] in the meantimehe says.
This digital dictionary will be allowed when students have had sufficient time to adapt it to a learning context and when appropriate tracking systems have been put in place.he continued.
Open to talk
Asked about this aspect, Minister Roberge refuted the argument that public schools lack computer equipment. There is no shortage of computers on the networkhe assured.
” Once you have computers, you can easily access Usito (a digital dictionary). Since the pandemic, we have increased the number of computers by almost 300%. “
Mr. Roberge also relies on an internal study by his department, conducted in 2019 and for which Radio-Canada obtained a copy, which shows that the use of digital dictionaries does not lead to better results. for its users. .
The use of a digital tool by students will lead to a 0.27%increase, on average, in consistent test results, which is quite negligible.can we read in the study, a percentage that is considered statistically insignificant.
The result of the study is visible […] I will tell you that I see no problem with being fair, the minister repeated. Now, for years to come, are there any adjustments to be made? I am open to discussing this.
Earlier on Tuesday, three opposition parties in the National Assembly invited Mr. Roberge to look into this question. The minister should look at what is being done, but do it fairlylaunched the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Dominique Anglade.
If it requires directives from the minister, let him issue them. Consistent proof must be consistentindicated on his part the co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul Saint-Pierre-Plamondon, went on a similar outing. Every student should have the same resources and have a fair assessment.
Source: Radio-Canada
