Lafrenière says amended language rules will benefit Indigenous CEGEP students

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Quebec’s minister responsible for Indigenous relations says the government plans to set up a working group this fall that will help Indigenous students succeed at CEGEP despite tougher French language requirements.

Minister Ian Lafrenière was responding to news of a petition recently launched by Dawson College’s students association that demands all Indigenous CEGEP students be exempted from provisions of the Charter of the French Language added by Bill 96. The petition, which had more than 1,400 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon, says the new law “acts as a deterrent for Indigenous students in their pursuit of their post-secondary education.”

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The new law sets out tougher French requirements for all English CEGEP students in Quebec, especially those who do not hold English eligibility certificates acknowledging their constitutional right to study in English. Many Indigenous students in Quebec do not have these certificates — even if they did their elementary and secondary studies in English — because the certificates are not required to study in English in Indigenous communities.

This meant that the law, in its original form, treated Indigenous students like francophones or allophones, requiring that they pass a French exit exam to graduate from English CEGEP and take three of their core courses in French. The government issued a new regulation in 2023, exempting some Indigenous students from the exit exam and allowing them to take courses designed to improve their French rather than core courses in French. To qualify for these exemptions though, Indigenous students would have to prove they had lived on a reserve or in an Indigenous community and studied in English and/or their Indigenous language there.

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Despite these changes, Indigenous students still maintain they should be exempted from the new language rules without having to fill out forms and meet requirements. An estimated 300 Indigenous students study at English CEGEPs in Quebec each year.

In an emailed statement to The Gazette, Lafrenière said the CAQ government is “fully engaged in its mission to support the accessibility (to higher education) and success of First Nation and Inuit students.”

“The amendments that have already been adopted, like the exemption from the French exit exam or the possibility of taking courses to learn French rather than courses in French, represent concrete gestures that demonstrate that in no way are we placing these Indigenous youth in a failing situation.

“On the contrary, the French courses, which can be adapted by the establishment (the CEGEP) to respond to the needs of Indigenous students, will allow them to acquire or improve their French language skills while persevering in their studies.”

He added that the government intends to create a working group during the fall parliamentary session with the goal of identifying best strategies to put in place to help Indigenous students pass their courses, to evaluate the training being provided, follow the progress of students and provide the necessary pedagogical support.

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“As we have always said, we must protect French and support First Nation and Inuit students in protecting their languages and cultures,” Lafrenière added. “I also hope that with the collaboration of CEGEP management, students will be able to be more successful in their study path.”

Diane Gauvin, director-general of Dawson College, said that despite the minister’s reassurances, she still has concerns for Indigenous students.

“There are no accommodations for Indigenous students who do not meet the criteria to obtain a certificate of eligibility or a derogation, or who refuse to request such special status because they do not recognize the authority of the Quebec government in this matter,” she said.

Also, she pointed out that the amendment to the law that allows Indigenous students to be exempted, if they qualify for such an exemption, from the requirement to take three of their core courses in French only applies for those who start CEGEP before June 30, 2027.

“So the statement, ‘In no way are we placing these Indigenous youth in a failing situation’ is false,” she said. “We have a number of students who are without any form of exemption. Moreover, starting in Fall 2027, Indigenous students who do not have a certificate of eligibility will be required to take three courses in French.”

She said some of these students are not being exposed to French in their school system or their communities growing up. “With no French at all, how will they succeed?”

mlalonde@postmedia.com

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