The crumbling state of Quebec’s schools is taking center stage this week with the release of chef Ricardo Larrivée’s documentary, Écoles sous pression, airing Monday night on ICI Télé and ICI Tou.tv. The film focuses on the urgent need for infrastructure improvements across the province and is already generating buzz among those advocating for the reconstruction of the Académie de Roberval in Montreal’s Villeray neighborhood.
For parents and students at the Académie de Roberval, the documentary feels like a potential turning point. The school, deemed structurally unsound since 2018, has been operating out of temporary accommodations at the Georges-Vanier secondary school for the past eight years. “We’re just asking for a properly functioning public service for our students,” says Émilie Renahy, a member of the Académie de Roberval reconstruction committee. “And for decision-makers to finally realize there’s a real issue here.” The frustration stems from a sense of being unheard, despite repeated appeals for action.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE
Ricardo Larrivée
The situation at Roberval is emblematic of a broader problem. According to figures highlighted in Larrivée’s documentary, 53% of school buildings across Quebec, and a staggering 75% in Montreal, are in poor condition. This deterioration is compounded by budgetary constraints. The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM) experienced a significant reduction in its asset maintenance budget for 2025-2026, forcing it to “prioritize essential interventions,” according to an internal “info-délocalisation” document from March 2026.
A Project on Hold
Currently, the CSSDM is awaiting approval and funding from the Quebec Ministry of Education (MÉQ) to complete the remaining phases of the Académie de Roberval reconstruction project. “At present, the CSSDM is awaiting a response from the Ministry of Education (MÉQ) to authorize and finance the remainder of the project,” stated Stéphane Chaput, the CSSDM’s Deputy Director General responsible for material resources.
Aimene Kebieche, president of the Académie de Roberval’s school council, underscored the urgency in a letter sent to Education Minister Sonia LeBel just over a week ago. “We once again request that you authorize funding for the reconstruction of the Académie de Roberval in a context of emergency linked to a lack of space and a growing student population in an overcrowded sector,” Kebieche wrote. Minister LeBel’s office declined to comment, deferring inquiries to the Ministry of Education.
Esther Chouinard, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the CSSDM regarding the project’s financial structure. “Discussions are ongoing with the CSSDM regarding the financial structure of the project and the search for solutions continues. In the meantime, students and staff have been relocated to Georges-Vanier Secondary School,” Chouinard said. However, this relocation, now in its eighth year, is proving unsustainable.
“It’s been temporary for eight years,” Renahy laments. The shared space is straining resources for both schools. “It limits services for students at Georges-Vanier and for ours. They have to share the cafeteria, the agora, the library, the gymnasium,” she explained.
A Broader Crisis in School Infrastructure
The Académie de Roberval is just one of several schools highlighted in Écoles sous pression. Larrivée’s documentary raises a fundamental question: how can the government – and society – accept the dilapidated state of so many of the buildings entrusted with educating Quebec’s youth? The situation has, in some cases, led to the sale of school buildings deemed too expensive to repair. As reported in April 2025, the historic building housing the École FACE was sold after renovation costs were estimated at $375 million.
The collective “Sauvons FACE” (Save FACE) is hoping to capitalize on the momentum generated by the documentary to continue its advocacy efforts. “Gentlemen, ladies who wish to capture control of Quebec’s destiny, know that we will not give up: the FACE school community will continue to pressure aspiring premiers,” said spokesperson Anne-Karine Tremblay in a letter published on March 25, 2026.
The Generations Fund as a Potential Solution?
The estimated cost of renovating the Académie de Roberval was $43 million in 2019. The project was suspended in March 2023 due to cost overruns, according to the school council, and any future reconstruction is likely to come with a significantly higher price tag.
The Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), Quebec’s teachers’ union, has proposed a potential solution: utilizing funds from the Generations Fund to address the infrastructure deficit. In a policy platform released ahead of the recent election campaign, the FAE argued for a substantial investment to revitalize Quebec’s school buildings. The union points to a 2020 analysis by the Chaire de recherche en fiscalité et en finances publiques, which concluded that the Generations Fund had met its objectives, as justification for redirecting a portion of its revenues to school infrastructure.
The release of Écoles sous pression is expected to intensify the debate surrounding school infrastructure funding in Quebec. The CSSDM is currently awaiting a response from the Ministry of Education regarding the Académie de Roberval project, and a decision is anticipated in the coming weeks. The documentary serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the deteriorating condition of schools across the province and ensure that all students have access to safe, modern learning environments.
This article has been updated to reflect the latest information available as of March 30, 2026.
Have your say: What do you think should be done to address the state of Quebec’s schools? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
