Parti Québécois Education Minister Marie Malavoy is defending herself after plans were revealed to cut some English classes and to increase studies about the history of the province’s sovereignty movement.
Under the past Liberal government, plans to add an intensive English course in Grade 6 were marked as a priority, but those plans have been put on hold, reports CBC News. The government also plans to remove mandatory English classes from Grade 1 and Grade 2 and to add more teaching about the history of Quebec sovereignty to the curriculum.
“In Quebec, when we want to understand our history, know where we come from, understand what is going on today, we need to discuss the national question,” Malavoy told CBC News.
Malavoy’s comments were first made in an interview with Le Soleil, under the headline: “Less English, more history.”
Acting Liberal leader Jean-Marc Fournier had harsh words for Malavoy, reports The Gazette, saying the plan will lead “our youth to sovereignty in a lobster trap.”
Fournier also told CTV News, that the Opposition will fight this education plan. “Her desire to proceed with a political takeover of our schools must be vigorously resisted,” he said.