11 Bedford Elementary teachers lose Quebec teaching certificates after probe
Quebec revoked teaching certificates of 11 Bedford Elementary teachers after a probe found intimidation and curriculum breaches; appeals are now expected.
The Quebec Ministry of Education revoked the teaching certificates of 11 staff members from Bedford Elementary School in Montreal on May 12, 2026, the ministry confirmed through the office of Education Minister Sonia LeBel. Bedford Elementary is at the centre of an investigation that began after allegations of intimidation and deliberate non‑compliance with provincial curricula first prompted suspensions in October 2024. The revocations follow a multi‑year inquiry, remedial action at the school and a public report released this week.
Decision announced and contested
The ministry’s decision, announced on May 12, 2026, removes the right of the 11 teachers to hold a Quebec teaching permit, a move that the government says is the culmination of its review of the case. The action was confirmed to public broadcasters by Minister LeBel’s office and has immediately drawn plans for legal challenges. The Alliance des professeurs de Montréal has criticized aspects of the investigative process and said it will support members who seek a review at the Tribunal administratif du Québec.
Allegations that triggered the inquiry
Suspensions with pay began in October 2024 after reports alleged that a group of teachers of Maghrebi origin had fostered an atmosphere of intimidation within the school and declined to teach subjects they considered inappropriate. The investigation that followed identified nearly 40 instances where required program elements were not being applied, including failures to deliver science and sexual education classes. The original probe was ordered in 2024 by then‑Education Minister Bernard Drainville after investigative reporting by a Cogeco journalist brought the situation to light.
Broader compliance checks and audits
The Bedford inquiry prompted wider scrutiny across the region; in December 2024, the Ministry opened investigations under the provincial Education Act into three other Montreal schools. Auditors were later dispatched to 17 schools across Quebec amid allegations of non‑compliance with secularism and curricular obligations. Officials have framed the actions as part of an effort to ensure that all students receive the full provincial program regardless of local practices or pressures.
External accompanists and the remediation plan
Independent accompanists Jean‑Pierre Aubin and Malika Abel were assigned to Bedford under a remediation strategy and submitted a final report in December 2025, which was published on May 12, 2026. Their report found that most measures in the school’s corrective plan had been implemented and that the school climate had improved, while noting certain actions still required follow‑through. The accompanists recommended legislative and policy changes, including clarifications to the Education Act and restrictions on religious demonstrations within school property, during school hours or after.
School management changes and oversight
The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM) instituted a suite of measures at Bedford, including weekly management meetings, a standing committee to monitor progress and support from a unit director to oversee implementation. Kathlyn Morel, deputy director general of the CSSDM, told reporters that the plan’s three pillars—program compliance, student safety and improved governance—have guided the recovery effort. The accompanists also urged a follow‑up assessment at the end of autumn 2026 to confirm that practices remain in place after a complete change of school leadership scheduled for 2026.
Systemwide adoption of Bedford measures
The CSSDM said it is extending the Bedford measures to all of its 185 schools to prevent similar problems elsewhere, and it has instituted a routine of at least two evaluations per teacher annually to verify program delivery. Officials emphasized they did not wait for verification mandates in other schools before beginning implementation of these practices. The board’s approach aims to normalize regular pedagogical oversight and to involve parents more directly through council participation.
Political reactions and local concerns
Federal and provincial politicians representing the area reacted to the revocations with a mix of relief and caution. Michelle Setlakwe, the Liberal MNA for Mont‑Royal–Outremont, said in a press briefing in Quebec City that she welcomed the removal of teachers deemed unfit to be in the classroom and called attention to the harm suffered by vulnerable students. Pascal Bérubé, the Parti Québécois leader, echoed that revocation of teaching licences was appropriate and described the permit as a privilege that carries duties to students and the curriculum.
The Alliance des professeurs de Montréal has not publicly defended the suspended members but said it observed procedural irregularities in the investigation and will ensure members’ rights to natural justice are respected. The union’s intervention and the possibility of appeals to the Tribunal administratif du Québec mean the legal and administrative process is likely to continue for months.
Bedford’s case has already produced policy ripples across the school board and prompted advocates to call for better mechanisms to detect and correct departures from mandatory program standards. The ministry and local authorities say they will continue monitoring Bedford and other schools closely as the follow‑up assessment scheduled for late 2026 approaches.
