Proposed enrolment cap could backfire, faculty, students at Gatineau CEGEP warn

Students and staff at Gatineau'sCgep Heritage Collegesay they're concerned a provincial push to protect French-language education by limiting enrolment at English-language CEGEPscould backfire.

CEGEPs in Quebec provide two-year university preparatory courses and three-year career programs. Tuition is free for Quebec residents.

• Quebec eyes English CEGEP admissions in bill to protect French language

The province is planning to reform its French Language Charter, also known as Bill 101, amid concerns Frenchis losing ground in Quebec.

On Thursday, Premier FranoisLegault announced the charter won't apply toCEGEPs, but said his government isweighing the possibility of capping the number of spots available at the English schools as a way of preventing francophone students from leaving the French education system.

If [Legault] wants to support French schools, then he should support French schools instead of hurting English schools.- Isaac Bunge, Heritage College student association

But the head of Cgep Heritage College, western Quebec's only English-language CEGEP, believestheopposite would happen.

"It could direct students who couldn't get into English CEGEPs to go to more private schools, which would end up costing students more money," said Gordon McIvor. "They could end up going outside of the province, which is already the case."

The province funds each CEGEPdepending on its annual enrolmentquota. Schools thatroutinely exceed their quota can apply to have it, and their funding, increased.

With a quota of 1,087, Cgep Heritage College has about 1,300 students enrolled this year, about one-quarter of whom list French as their first language.

"It does look like this is ... more of a political move than a real concern about French language and culture," said Leslie Elliott, chair of the faculty association at Cgep Heritage College.

"There's no suggestionthat they lose their language or their culture with attending [an English-language CEGEP] for two or three years. In fact, what they seem to be gaining are employable skills."

WATCH | The student association's perspective:

Proposed English-language CEGEP restrictions would limit the growth of Quebec, student says

4 years ago

Duration 0:59

Isaac Bunge, president of the student association at Heritage College, says the proposed limits on English-language CEGEP enrolment would only encourage students to leave Quebec for their education.

Isaac Bunge, the CEGEP's student association president,said he and his classmatesare disappointed bythe government's move.

"[We] don't understand why the premier would want to put more barriers on students going to English CEGEPs," Bunge said."If [Legault] wants to support French schools, then he should support French schools instead of hurting English schools."

Bunge said francophone students he's spoken withtold him they welcome the opportunity to improve their English and expand their employment opportunities.

The timing of adecision on anenrolment cap will be important because applications for the fall semester are dueMarch 1. McIvor said he's hoping the province will give CEGEPs appropriate noticebefore implementing any change.