Marked increase in violence and absences at the Rivière-du-Nord School Service Centre

The Syndicat du personnel de soutien en éducation de la Rivière-du-Nord (SPSERN-CSQ) and the School Support Staff Federation (SSSF-CSQ) are concerned about recent data regarding violence in schools within the Rivière-du-Nord School Service Centre, as reports of violence, work stoppages, and pressure on staff continue to rise.

According to the data, the number of reported violent incidents rose from 232 in 2018–2019 to 558 in 2025–2026, an increase of over 140% in seven years. During the same period, the student population grew by approximately 21%, while the number of students with disabilities or social, emotional, or learning difficulties surged by 54%.

“Behind these figures are workers facing difficult situations on a daily basis. We see on the ground that violence has become a major concern for a growing number of members. This reality can no longer be downplayed,” states Stéphanie Tremblay, President of the SPSERN-CSQ.

The data also reveal a significant increase in the impact on staff health. In 2024–2025, 76 individuals took leave covered by the CNESST (Quebec’s workplace safety board) due to violent incidents, compared to 62 in 2020–2021. Cases of disability requiring salary insurance also more than doubled during this period.

At the same time, the network is contending with sustained growth in its student population. The total number of students rose from 24,528 in 2020–2021 to 28,137 in 2025–2026, while the number of students with special needs climbed from 5,040 to 7,372 during the same period.

“Students need specialized services, support, and rapid interventions.

Achieving this requires fully staffed teams, adequate support, and safe working environments. Violence is not a normal part of working in a school setting,” emphasizes Éric Pronovost, President of the SSSF-CSQ.

Both organizations point out that support staff play a vital role in assisting the most vulnerable students and that workforce recruitment and retention remain areas of concern. Despite some improvements, vacancies persist for school-based educators and special education technicians.

“When workloads increase, situations become more complex, and violence intensifies, we must invest more in support staff. Our members want to continue providing quality services to students, but they need to be able to do so in a safe environment and with the necessary resources,” adds Stéphanie Tremblay.

The SSSF-CSQ and the SPSERN-CSQ are calling, in particular, for stronger violence prevention measures, increased resources to support students facing difficulties, and better support for workers who are victims of violence.

“Every act of violence prevented is a victory for students, staff, and the entire school system. The data from the Rivière-du-Nord School Service Centre illustrate a reality we see across Quebec: it is time to move from acknowledging the problem to taking action,” concludes Éric Pronovost.