Quebec announces $80M education plan as negotiations drag on

As talks continue between the province and striking teachers, Education Minister Franois Blais offered details of a plan to put $80 million into the school system.

Blais said Sundaythe money will go towardprovidingmore frontline services to students and hiringmore teachers.

He said the money will helpstudents at key moments in their education throughout elementary and high school.

• Quebec's public sector, government hold weekend negotiation marathon
• Quebec teachers push back over funding ahead of talks
• Anti-austerity protest marches from Jarry Park to Town of Mount Royal

The Quebec government had already said last week it wouldre-invest $100 million in education over the coming months:$20 million this fiscal yearand anadditional $80 million annually, beginning in 2016-2017.

Those amounts representan increase in education spendingof just 0.12 per centfor the rest of this fiscal year and 0.5 per centnext year.

Funding tacklesservices, not salaries

The measures include more services to help young children with reading and writing while also providing additional resources to steer older students away from dropping out.

Blais also announced that 600 more teachers will be hired across Quebec.The announcement comes as teachers gear up for a walkouton Dec. 9 as a part of province-wide rotating strikes.

The plan includes integrating students with learning difficulties and disabilities into regular classrooms.

The government said it will alsocreateindividualized education programs to help high school students in math, science and French.

The announcement comes after the government revealed earlier this week that they might cut $120 million from the budget of Quebec daycares.

Quebec teachers question funding

Unions representing Quebec teachers are casting doubt on how meaningful the investment is.

They say that the $80 million was already in the budget for 2016.

Quebec teachers are still waiting to reach an agreement with the government as they have been without a contract since April.

Public sector negotiations are going into overdrive this weekend in hopes of settling on a new collective agreement.