Luc Chatel in Canada [fr]

French Education Minister, Luc Chatel, visits Toronto on March 10, 2011

French Minister for National Education, Youth and the Voluntary Sector, Mr. Luc Chatel, visited Toronto on March 9 and 10. Interested in Ontario’s outstanding results in recent education evaluations conducted by a number of international organizations, the Minister met with several Ontario officials, including Ms. Laurel Broten, Ontario’s Minister of Children and Youth Services, and Mr. Kevin Costante, Ontario Education Deputy Minister. Mr. Chatel also paid a visit to three schools: Pierre Elliott Trudeau elementary school, the Lycée Français of Toronto, and Lawrence Heights Middle School, located in North York.

Visit on March 10 (Marie-Dominique Dubois)

Fundamental learning and school governance
During his visit to Pierre Elliot Trudeau elementary school where he was met with a warm welcome by the teaching staff, Mr. Chatel discussed learning methods for literacy and numeracy. “In international surveys, specifically in terms of reading comprehension, significant efforts have been made in Ontario,” said Minister Chatel. “Learning difficulties are identified from the early age; teachers set up evaluation systems at the start of the school year in order to assess each student’s level and then adapt the pedagogy accordingly,” declared the French Minister, while showing great interest in these methods.

Later that morning, Mr. Luc Chatel visited the Lycée Français in Toronto. Together with the lycée principal, Mr. Dominique Duthel, and the Chair of the Administration Board, Mr. Mathieu Floréani, the Minister toured the school and met with students, professors and parents. He praised “the excellent work of the teaching staff and the lycée’s successful education system.” The Minister also commented on the considerable autonomy and leeway given to the education establishments.

A school for students experiencing academic difficulties
Lastly, Minister Chatel was introduced to the program entitled “Model Schools for Inner Cities” at Lawrence Heights Middle School, a school that welcomes students from immigrant families living in poverty. Currently, it is estimated that one in six students in Ontario lives at poverty levels greater than those of the early 1990s. “This is very interesting because we are facing the same challenges of integration of immigrant children who are experiencing academic difficulties. This shows that through an adapted pedagogical approach and true political will, we can have success with students experiencing great difficulties and who, together with their families, are not connected with their schools,” announced Mr. Chatel. “I think that the Canadian system has great qualities when it comes to placing students at the heart of the program and enabling them to succeed,” he added.
The French Education Minister is visiting Quebec today. The Quebec visit will be more oriented toward the issues surrounding violence in schools.”