The provincial government of Quebec has announced a new initiative aimed at promoting French language education in schools and fostering students’ interest in reading. Education Minister Bernard Drainville revealed on Tuesday that teachers in Quebec will receive an annual allowance of $300 to purchase Quebec books for their classrooms.
The initiative, estimated to cost the Quebec treasury $55.6 million by 2027-2028, is expected to provide a total of 616,000 new books per year for primary school classrooms, according to estimates from the Ministry of Education.
In a statement, Drainville emphasized the importance of creating a stimulating and enriching learning environment for Quebec’s youth. “Developing students’ interest in reading is only possible if we make as many quality books as possible available to them,” he said.
The government of Quebec has been proactive in its efforts to enhance French language education in schools, and this latest initiative is seen as a significant step towards achieving that goal. Along with the annual allowance for teachers to purchase books, the government has indicated that additional measures to support French language education in schools will be announced in the near future.
“We want to encourage students’ interest in reading with this announcement,” Drainville stated. “And fostering this interest is only possible if we make as many quality books as possible available to our students. That’s what our government is doing.”
This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on French language education in Quebec schools, and contribute to fostering a culture of reading among students. Teachers are anticipated to benefit from the allowance, which will enable them to choose and provide high-quality books that align with the curriculum and engage students in the joy of reading.