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Jacques Ménard, chair of the Groupe d'action
sur la persévérance et la réussite scolaires and president of BMO Financial
Group, Quebec, noted with regret today. "Facing this situation, we have no
choice but to launch an effort involving all of Quebec society in order to
reduce the dropout rate."
L. Jacques Ménard and the nearly 30 members of the action group feel that
it is possible to increase the graduation rate among 20-year-olds from its
current 69 per cent to more than 80 per cent within a decade. "Accomplishing
this will absolutely require that student retention and success becomes the
business of all society, not just the schools and the education department,"
said Ménard. "Every initiative taken in every region, in every district, in
every field where it's required, must contribute to students' success and
place enough pressure on the Quebec government that it will follow the Ontario
government's example and become truly involved in the fight to reduce the
dropout rate using all necessary means."
"All the initiatives that have proved successful in the field of student
retention and success share a number of characteristics. These include a
strong leader ready to become involved in the fight; community involvement; a
relationship of trust between the young person and the person or persons
coaching him or her; and excellent coordination among the players at the
various levels," said Michel Perron, founder of the Conseil régional de
prévention de l'abandon scolaire au Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean (CRÉPAS) and head of
the organization's student retention project between 1996 and 2003. CRÉPAS has
helped bring about a significant increase in the graduation rate in the
Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region.
The McKinsey & Company consulting firm generously assisted the action
group in developing a response plan that, with adjustments to meet the
specific requirements of each region, school, district or town, could
contribute to the success of the fight to lower the dropout rate. "We studied
models that have worked here and abroad and, with the help of Quebec's top
experts in the field, have drawn the necessary lessons," said Éric Lamarre,
Managing Director, Montreal Office, McKinsey & Company.
"That nearly one young person in three celebrates his or her 20th
birthday without a high school diploma is a fact that should leave none of us
indifferent, especially in a world where knowledge is the key to freedom and
independence," said L. Jacques Ménard. "Without laying blame on anyone, it is
time to acknowledge that all the studies we've consulted show that not
completing high school is far too often a generator of poverty and reduced
involvement in community life-in short, a tragedy, above all for the
individuals concerned but also for society as a whole. I turned my attention
to this issue following the publication of my book, Si on s'y mettait...,
because I strongly believe it is through education that Quebec will achieve
its full potential."
Mr. Ménard pointed to the success announced last week by Ontario's
premier, who decided to become personally involved in the fight to reduce the
dropout rate with the support of the education minister and many partners.
Ontario has been able to raise its high school graduation rate from 68% five
years ago to 77% today. "Success like this doesn't happen by chance," Mr.
Ménard emphasized. "It is the result of a large number of community-based
initiatives and a significant commitment by the Ontario government, which has
understood that educating young people is the best way to maintain the
province's standard of living and economic growth."
"Student retention and success is everybody's business. Each young person
who succeeds in obtaining a diploma is also a success for his or her entire
community. In our report, we put forward various approaches and identify the
main ball carriers. We hope that all the parties involved, in particular the
Quebec government, will put their shoulders to the wheel. Our success as a
society depends on it," Mr. Ménard concluded.
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