School Violence  – An Inquiry That Comes Too Late: Solutions Are Known but Resources Are Lacking

The Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (FPSS-CSQ) and the Fédération du personnel professionnel de l’éducation du Québec (FPPE-CSQ) are responding to a letter in reply to the unanimous motion passed by the National Assembly on February 26, 2026, and tabled in the National Assembly on June 11, 2026, calling on the government to conduct a national inquiry into school violence, based on a common definition of the term.

A Reality Already Well Known in Schools

The two federations welcome the government’s commitment to developing a common and rigorous understanding of school violence. A better grasp of the phenomenon can help guide long-term actions.

However, they emphasize that schools are not waiting for the results of this inquiry to see the very real effects of violence and the growing pressure on school staff. For them, the urgency to act is already evident.

While Needs Increase, Resources Decrease

The FPSS-CSQ and the FPPE-CSQ dispute the claim that student services have been improved. On the ground, the reality observed by school teams is quite different: needs are increasing, situations are becoming more complex, and available resources are no longer sufficient to adequately meet demands.

According to the Ministry of Education, the network had 2,465 fewer positions for special education technicians on August 25, 2025, than on May 14, 2025. The FPPE-CSQ has documented a decrease of 499 professional positions in the school system, the largest we have seen in 25 years.

Both federations find it difficult to reconcile these setbacks with the government’s rhetoric on strengthening services and combating violence. While efforts are being made to better document the phenomenon and the human resources needed to prevent it and provide adequate and timely support, the students themselves continue to disappear.

The Need for Urgent Action Is Already Clear

While they welcome the government initiative, the two organizations point out that the findings are already well known in educational circles.

Both federations believe that the results of the announced inquiry should not serve as a pretext to delay the implementation of concrete measures aimed at supporting students and school teams. The safety of students and staff is at stake.

“School support staff are on the front line when it comes to violence and the school environment. The findings are already clear: needs are exploding and teams are under pressure. We cannot wait for the results of an inquiry to act,” says Éric Pronovost, president of the FPSS-CSQ.

We Already Know the Solutions

The two federations denounce the lack of concrete actions being taken on the ground. Acts of violence are of increasing concern in communities, but the resources devoted to prevention, guidance and support are not keeping pace.

We already know what the solutions are. Preventive approaches, collaborative work in school teams, and the presence of specialized resources and adapted environments are well documented. Violence in schools is first and foremost a human reality that requires human responses.

As a result, school teams too often find themselves intervening when situations have already degenerated, rather than being able to take proactive measures with students.

“It’s a good thing that the government is finally acknowledging the extent of violence in our schools. But this acknowledgement must be accompanied by concrete action. Just this week, nine (9) professionals were cut at the Centre de services scolaire (CSS) des Phares, one example among many of cutbacks that are increasing as the school year comes to a close. The solutions are known. What is lacking is not data, but the human and material resources to take action,” states Carolane Desmarais, president of the FPPE-CSQ.

Moving from Words to Action

The FPSS-CSQ and the FPPE-CSQ believe that the announced inquiry must lead to concrete actions. The two federations call on the government to immediately provide the means to take preventive action and adequately support school teams.

In particular, we are asking:

• To cancel the cuts to professional and support staff positions in direct services to students announced for the 2026-2027 school year;
• To immediately implement a measure specifically dedicated to increasing the resources dedicated to addressing issues of violence;
• To immediately strengthen school teams;
• To improve the working conditions of school staff;
• To ensure an increased presence of professionals and support staff;
• To involve staff more in the development of solutions;
• To guarantee that the results of the inquiry will lead to concrete and sustainable actions.

The two federations reiterate their commitment to collaborate with the government to implement sustainable solutions. They note, however, that schools do not need to wait for the results of a new inquiry to know that they already lack resources. The solutions are known. It’s time to give schools the means to implement them.