Quebec's English schools hurt by enrolment decline

Last year, more than 13,000 students eligible to study in English were instead enrolled in French schools, and that trend could spell trouble for the future ofEnglish-language instruction in Quebec.

We have to do more to convince our English parents who are thinking of French schools to take a look at what were doing.- David D'Aoust, president of Quebec English School Boards Association

David DAoust, the president of the Quebec English School Boards Association, said a study recently issued by the provinces Education Ministry showing these numbers is a wake-up call that more needs to be done to counteract declining enrolment.

There are at least 12,000 students that we know of, according to the ministry, who arent attending our system who are eligible, DAoust told CBC News.

Some of those decisions are made for very personal reasons by parents, but there are 12,000 students we could use in our system, he continued.

The ministrys report says that 13,132 students eligible to study in English are at French-language schools. DAoust said that number is double what it was two decades ago.

He said it really affects English-language schools in the province because the funding they receive from the ministry are based on the number of students attending their schools.

We have to do more to convince our English parents who are thinking of French schools to take a look at what were doing, DAoust said.