Quebec solidaire MNA Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois has released a white paper highlighting how Quebec’s three-tier school system disproportionately affects boys, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Titled “Those We Leave Behind – The Impact of a Three-Tier School System on Boys’ Success,” the 76-page report draws on months of research, field visits, and international studies. It finds that boys in public schools face far larger achievement gaps than girls compared with their peers in private schools.
Key statistics reveal that dropout rates for boys in public schools are three times higher than for girls, standardized French exam scores lag behind by 11.6 per cent, and access to CEGEP is nearly three times lower. Boys are also underrepresented in selective programs like the International Education Program, where just 35.7 per cent of participants are male.
Nadeau-Dubois, who plans to leave politics later this year, said the paper is meant to spark a national conversation. “If we want boys to succeed, we must address the three-tier system,” he said.
The white paper is available here.
