From Stadacona to the REM · Drawing 25 of 36
Schools are changing
1964
In 1964, Québec creates its Ministry of Education. This reform aims to help more young people continue their studies. In class, children discover, ask questions and learn together.
Look together
What would you like to learn at school?
An idea to try
Ask your child to name people who help them learn. Draw some roles around an imaginary school: teaching, welcoming, preparing rooms or organizing.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
During the 1960s, Québec transformed its education system. The Parent Commission, created in 1961, studied needs and proposed reforms. In 1964, a law created the Ministry of Education and the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation; Paul Gérin-Lajoie became minister. The reforms aimed, among other things, to broaden access to education. They did not create Québec’s first schools or instantly give everyone the same opportunities. The ministry shares responsibility for the system with other institutions and the people working in schools.
The picture chooses an arrival at school to make the subject concrete. You can explain that beyond the people in the classroom, other adults decide how schools are organized. The building drawn is fictional; it is neither the ministry nor a school opened in 1964.
Sources and context (2)
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. Source titles appear in their original language; some linked pages are in French.
- Bibliothèque de l’Assemblée nationale - Création du ministère de l’Éducation, 1964
- Radio-Canada — La commission Parent, une révolution tranquille dans l’enseignement
Source review: 2026-09-19. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.