By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
A new province-wide protocol to better protect school staff from violence has been launched by Quebec’s Ministry of Education, developed in partnership with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and its federations. The initiative draws on an Estrie-based pilot project and comes at a time when teachers’ unions across the region report a troubling rise in violent incidents.
The protocol, announced by outgoing Education Minister Bernard Drainville earlier this month, includes a practical guide for schools that covers both prevention and intervention. According to the ministry, the guide will soon be distributed in every school in the province.
Estrie origins and SEE involvement
The model for the new tool was first designed in Sherbrooke, through a collaboration between the Centre de services scolaire de la Région-de-Sherbrooke and the Syndicat de l’enseignement de l’Estrie (SEE-CSQ). SEE President David Raymond said he welcomed the government’s decision to expand the local model into a province-wide system.
“By uniting our resources and our expertise, we were able to create a robust and practical tool that will benefit all school teams,” Raymond said. “We hope this dialogue continues so we can constantly improve the tool and strengthen safety in our schools.”
Raymond explained that the new provincial protocol goes further than the Estrie version by addressing not only what should happen after an incident, but also steps that can be taken to prevent violence in the first place. “A teacher has the right to work in a safe and secure environment,” he said. “If someone is the victim of violence, it is important to take care of that teacher and make sure they can safely return to their class.”
The SEE has tracked incidents for years. Its last survey in 2022 found that 42 per cent of teachers had experienced violence, up from 35 per cent in 2018. Among teachers with less than ten years’ experience, that figure rose to 52 per cent. On average, schools in Estrie reported 137 violent events every day, ranging from verbal abuse to physical aggression. Another survey is planned this fall to determine whether the trend is continuing.
Ministerial shuffle and predictability
Raymond also reflected on the broader political context, noting that the frequent turnover at the Ministry of Education complicates long-term solutions. “If I’m not mistaken, [Sonia] LeBel will be the 13th Minister of Education in the last 20 years,” he said. “Every new minister wants to bring their own orientation, but what the network needs most is predictability.”
He recalled that Drainville’s $570 million in budget cuts announced in June, followed by conditional reinvestments, had caused confusion in schools when directives quickly shifted. Still, Raymond said he sees reasons for cautious optimism with the new minister. “We had the chance to meet Ms. Lebel during the last collective agreement negotiations, when she was at the Treasury Board, and we’re going to give her a chance. If she accepts collaboration with partners, including unions, it can be win–win for everyone.”
English-sector concerns
In the English sector, the Appalachian Teachers’ Association (ATA) has also been watching the rollout of new safety measures. ATA President Timothy Croteau said his members share concerns about the rise in violent incidents, but he believes the way measures are being implemented locally leaves important gaps.
He claimed the ETSB’s central health and safety committee had been dismantled, arguing that it has left schools without a clear, board-wide mechanism to monitor incidents and develop prevention strategies. In his view, this makes follow-up inconsistent and reduces teachers’ confidence in the system.
Croteau also stressed that psychological health is just as pressing as physical safety. He said members are reporting toxic workplace atmospheres, delays in follow-up of incidents, and growing stress. In his opinion, when teachers see their complaints go unanswered, they become less likely to report, which risks giving the impression that problems have disappeared when they have not.
Broader context
School violence has been the subject of repeated concern across Quebec. The Ministry of Education confirmed earlier this year that it considers the issue a growing problem province-wide. A 2023 survey by the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement found that more than half of teachers reported experiencing verbal or physical violence at work, echoing SEE’s findings in Estrie.
Looking ahead
Both union leaders say the new protocol could make a difference if properly supported. Raymond emphasized that the SEE will keep pressing for improvements and will release updated survey data early in 2026. Croteau said the ATA will continue to push for a reinstated central safety mechanism within the ETSB.
Despite their different perspectives, both agree that stronger systems for prevention, reporting, and follow-up are essential if teachers are to feel safe in their classrooms.