College staff call on minister to resign over interference

The Syndicat du personnel enseignant du Cégep de Sherbrooke (SPECS-CSN) has unanimously called for the resignation of Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, following what the union describes as a politically motivated intrusion into academic freedom, writes William Crooks for The Record.

During a general assembly held earlier this week, union members expressed outrage over Déry’s recent intervention in two Montreal-area English-language colleges, Dawson and Vanier. The minister reportedly requested an evaluation of courses addressing the Palestinian question – raising concerns over their content and the qualifications of those teaching them.

“This is not a pedagogical question. It’s a political one, and it’s an unacceptable attempt to censor certain courses,” said SPECS-CSN President Mathieu Poulin-Lamarre in a 28 March interview. “Teachers are professionals who know how to present complex topics in ways that foster understanding and dialogue. To suggest otherwise is deeply disrespectful.”
Full report on The Record site