A group of parents in Quebec is asking to suspend a new obligation this year that forces home-educated children to take ministerial exams in the 4th and 6th years, as well as in the 2nd. secondary.
The Quebec Association for Home Education (AQED) wants these tests to remain optional among five possible options for the annual knowledge assessment of children doing homeschooling.
L ‘AQED is concerned about the consequences of the obligation to pass ministerial examinations for these students. About half of them were dropped out of school because they had learning disabilities, disabilities or mental health problems, which were not adequately addressed by the basic education system, according to the organization.
After repeated unsuccessful requests, theAQED said to have sent a formal notice last Thursday to the office of the Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, to ask him for an immediate intervention to suspend year -end ministerial exams.
Injunction
If nothing moves on Wednesday, an injunction will be filed, said the association’s president, Marine Dumond-Després.
The exams are coming up in the next few days, so it’s really something urgent and let’s take it seriously. We seem to have been open about its consequences to some of our familieshe said in an interview.
Submitting these tests to these young people can cause anxiety, believesAQED representing 4,000 home-educated children.
We have young people who have to go to a school that they haven’t been to, because they haven’t been to school yet. Young people who have been bullied-who have been motivated to choose to drop out of school and study at home-will be forced to return to the establishment where they endured difficult trials.testifies to Ms. Dumond-Després.
Ordering a standardized assessment method for these students who experience certain specificities will provide a bias resultbecause it does not match the way in which the instruction is given, Ms. believes. Dumond-Després.
Having a choice allows parents to choose the most appropriate type of assessment according to their child’s profile. The act of imposition [les examens ministériels]it rejects the parent’s choice to study at home using alternative pedagogyhe argued.
Not enough, judges AQED
Materials to prepare homeschooled students for ministry exams are provided, but theAQED judge them inadequate.
Other annual assessment options available to families under the homeschooling policy are to use a private school assessor or submit a portfolio to the ministry.
The entry into force of the requirement for ministerial examinations comes from a regulatory amendment. One of the arguments raised by Quebec to defend this change is to ensure that students follow the school’s training program in Quebec, Ms. Dumond-Després.
But according to him, parents are already filling out a lot of documentation throughout the year that allows the ministry to review the progress of education.
L ‘AQED also regrets the fact that ministerial exams in secondary 4 and 5 count for 100% of the final marks of home-educated youth. He demands that the weighting be the same in the school network.
The association estimates that there are more than 10,000 home schooling children in Quebec, but does not know how many young people will be affected by the obligation to take ministerial exams.
Source: Radio-Canada
