 Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois. (QMI Agency/Joel Lemay)
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MONTREAL — In response to public pressure, the Parti Quebecois has softened its position on English classes taught in elementary schools across the province, QMI Agency has learned.
PQ Education Minister Marie Malavoy, who called English a "foreign language" in October, had previously announced that her government would cancel a program that obligated schools to add 369 hours of intensive English courses to its Grade 6 curriculums.
However, sources told QMI Agency that after consultations with teachers' unions, parents and school administrations, the PQ will still cancel the program, but will allow individual schools to decide if they want to add English courses.
Sources said the goal of the PQ government is to have students graduate elementary school with the ability to speak and understand English "in current life situations."
A large number of French-language elementary schools are expected to increase the number of English lessons due to strong demand by parents, QMI has learned.
