French classes are a hit in the Eastern Townships. But a funding cap means they'll soon be cancelled - Action News
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Montreal

French classes are a hit in the Eastern Townships. But a funding cap means they'll soon be cancelled

The Eastern Townships School Board is pleading for additional funding from the Quebec government to continue offering French-language courses to over 400 students, many of whom are immigrants or new arrivals.

In just 3 years, enrolment went from 25 to more than 400 students

A woman reads from a french book, seated at a desk in a classroom
Due to funding cuts, French courses offered by the Eastern Townships School Board are in jeopardy. Chairman Michael Murray says over 400 students count on the courses. (Guylaine Charette/Radio-Canada)

When Riham Mohamed first moved to Quebec 11 months ago, she could only say hello and thank you in French.

Going shopping was a struggle and making friends, nearly impossible. But three months ago, things changed when she became one of hundreds of adult students taking full-time free French classes through the Eastern Townships School Board.

"Now at least I can understand most of [the] discussions going around me," said Mohamed.

"I can make friends, I can go to hospital without needing any help. My French is not really good but at least I can live."

But come November, the board will be forced to put an end to the popular program due to a lack of funding.

The province has capped fundingfor French-language courses in the adult sector, says Eastern Townships School Board chairman Michael Murray.

Murray says the province is fixing the funding at 2021 levels when there were just 25 students in the program.

He's now pleading for the funds to maintain the program offered at its schools, which he says address "the very real need" of immigrants and other new arrivals in the region.

Enrolment and interest spiked in 3 years

While the board has looked for alternatives, Murray says frustration is increasing.

"We were basically stonewalled by the individuals that we approached in the Ministry of Education," said Murray.

A man looks at the camera, standing in front of a school
Michael Murray says the program offers important tools for new arrivals. (Guylaine Charette/Radio-Canada)

He says he only found out about the change in July.

"By mid-September, we had exhausted the budget for the full year and we're now continuing to operate the program using funds that we're kind of borrowing, I guess you would say, from other objectives," he said.

He says it would take several hundred thousand dollars to continue the program, which now has more than 400 students.

'We are their support system'

The board was counting on being reimbursed for the costs of expanding the program.Now, Murray says they don't have enough funds to pursue courses past Nov.25.

"It's just heartbreaking for us who are mandated to to operate a program of this kind and for the people that are involved," said Murray.

"We become far more than simply a place to go to learn French. We are their support system."

Mohamed says students have become close friends, forming a "family from different cultures."

"At first we didn't know each other, we can't speak the same language," said Mohamed."But with French, finally we are friends."

Fellow student Shirin Salehi says come November she might be forced to pay for classes or move outside Quebec for work.

Originally from Iran, Salehi set her sights on Quebec's Eastern Townships and six months ago started to take the full-time French classes which have been paying off.

"I couldn't speak even a word in French," said Salehi.

In mere months, she noticed her French improving, but now has to think of her plan B.

"It's so important for us to learn it because without it we cannot improve in our life, in our job," she said. "Maybe I will have to move."

QuebecEducation Minister Bernard Drainville and Minister of the French LanguageJean-Franois Robergedid not respond to a request for comment from CBC News.

With files from CBC's Quebec AM and Sarah-Kate Dallaire