Quebec schools are feeling the pressure as asylum-seeking families with young children continue to cross the U.S. border into the province.
A spokeswoman for one of Montreal’s largest school boards says it has had a record number of new students this past year, including some 700 who are asylum seekers.
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Gina Guillemette of the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board says schools have brought in mobile classrooms to meet the demand, but are in desperate need of more space and specialized teachers.
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The president of a union representing teachers and school staff on Montreal’s south shore says the demand for welcome classes has doubled in the last two years.
READ MORE: Quebec says 400 asylum seekers a day could enter province this summer
Eric Gingras says the Quebec government has recently boosted its education spending but that it is not nearly enough to meet the rising demand.
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Premier Philippe Couillard said earlier this week that some 2,500 children have been added to the school system since the surge of asylum seekers began — the equivalent of five elementary schools worth.
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