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MONTREAL — Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville said his ministry will investigate complaints about 17 schools in the province where it is alleged that the secularism of the state is not respected.

“Complaints and reports have been brought to the attention of the (Education Department) regarding issues related to non-compliance with secular obligations,” the Education Department said in a statement. “Many citizens responded to the call to inform the government of any situation where behavior contrary to the values ​​of Quebec society was observed.

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Questions around religious neutrality in schools have swirled since the publication last month of a report by the Ministry of Education on a Montreal school, where the media had denounced questionable religious practices and a toxic climate. A government investigation found a “dominant clan” at the Bedford school imposed a strict and autocratic regime on pupils.

The investigation revealed that the teachers, who were allegedly influenced by the local mosque, subjected the children to physical and psychological violence. There were incidents of classroom prayers and some teachers reportedly refused to teach – or paid little attention to – the science and sex education curriculum.

Eleven teachers – a mix of men and women – were described as being part of a “dominant clan” at the school. They were suspended with pay and their teaching licenses were suspended pending a full investigation.

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Among the schools named Thursday, three in Montreal were already the subject of audits announced last month. The 17 schools are all in the French system, including 11 in Montreal and its surrounding areas, three in Quebec, one in Gatineau and two in the Saguenay region, north of the capital.

The Ministry of Education said the information it received regarding the 17 establishments involves alleged violations of the four principles of the provincial secularism law, known as Bill 21.

These principles include the separation of church and state, the religious neutrality of the state, the equality of all citizens as well as freedom of conscience and freedom of religion. The release did not mention any specific allegations regarding any of the schools.

Drainville indicated in a press release that the 17 audits which will be carried out by his ministry should be completed by January 17, 2025. He also indicated to Radio-Canada that other schools not mentioned in the list, mainly in Montreal, will also be audited.

“We cannot allow people who behave in unacceptable ways or whose motivations are driven by ideologies or personal beliefs to intrude into our schools,” Drainville said in a statement.

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“In light of the information we receive, all solutions will be on the table to strengthen the place of secularism and ensure that the education transmitted to our children respects the Quebec educational system and Quebec values.

Following the controversy surrounding the Bedford school, Prime Minister François Legault ordered Drainville and Minister of Secularism Jean-François Roberge to find solutions to prevent religion from infiltrating classrooms. In the meantime, the government has written to all school service centers in Quebec — which replaced the province’s French-speaking school boards in 2020 — to remind them of their obligations in terms of secularism and respect for religious neutrality.

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