While CEGEPs as a whole are once again facing an increase in enrollment this year, the number of professional and support staff is not always keeping pace. Yet, the staff unions’ federation believes that CEGEPs should be “catalysts for regional development.”
The president of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), Éric Gingras, and the presidents representing its three college education federations—teachers, professionals, and support staff—met with the press on Tuesday in Montreal to provide an update on the start of the college school year, against a backdrop of rising enrollment, a partially lifted hiring freeze, and a decline in the number of international students.
Gingras reported a four per cent increase in student enrollment this year, following a 10 per cent rise, “amid a budgetary context where budgets have been cut.” Professionals and support staff are particularly affected.
The picture varies greatly from one CEGEP to another, with enrollment declining in programs such as graphic design and computer science, where the shadow of artificial intelligence looms large.
It also varies from one institution to another, as some CEGEPs previously attracted a large number of international students.
Youri Blanchet, president of the college teachers’ federation, cites the example of the colleges in Gaspé, which had recruited many international students in forestry, and Matane, which saw a 60 per cent drop in international student enrollment following the tightening of immigration rules.
We now need to correct this course, Blanchet argued. He suggests launching campaigns in countries where we wish to recruit students. “We can conduct promotional campaigns directly on the ground and say, ‘Listen, despite what has happened, Quebec still offers an attractive learning environment.’ In fact, we need to turn the tide and launch a positive campaign to counter the negative perception that has taken hold.”
With the election campaign set to begin in the coming days, Gingras is calling on party leaders to recognize the role that CEGEPs play in regional development.
“During the upcoming election campaign, we’ll hear all the political parties emphasize regional development. They’ll all talk about it. What we’re saying is that CEGEPs are places that help develop regions by retaining the people who are already there—because we’re maintaining existing programs—and with the contribution of international students, we’re sustaining the program, which also benefits the local community. CEGEPs should be a catalyst for regional development,” he argued.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
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