Immigrants may be forced to attend French CEGEP
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 9, 2000 | 9:32 AM ET
CBC News
The Quebec government is worried by statistics showing 40% of allophones will switch to an English CEGEP after attending elementary and secondary schools in French.
Many want more allophones in French CEGEP
Louise Beaudoin says the PQ government must examine the trend more closely.
The language minister says allophone attendance in French CEGEPs is higher than it was 20 years ago, but many PQ supporters believe that number should be higher.
"After 23 years of the charter, it's better than it was. But still, some are asking the question, 'Shouldn't it be 80%?' because 80% of the population is French-speaking in Quebec," Beaudoin says.
The government will hold public consultations into the matter during the language summit, an Estates General, next fall.
Opponents call idea coercive
Lorette Langlais, director of an immigrant help centre in Montreal, is against the proposal. She calls the proposal discriminatory and coercive.
She says the students are young adults by the time they're in CEGEP and they should have the freedom to choose what language they want to learn in.
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