The Quebec Education Department has revoked the teaching licenses of 11 educators, most of whom are of North African descent, following a government investigation that uncovered a toxic climate at Bedford Elementary School in Montreal. The investigation, which began in June 2024, revealed that the teachers spent little time on science and sex education and attempted to introduce Islamist religious concepts, including making students pray in the classroom.

The $30 million toe in the water

The Quebec Education Department's decision to revoke the licenses of 11 educators at Bedford Elementary School comes after a comprehensive investigation that found the teachers fostered a toxic climate and attempted to introduce Islamist religious concepts into the public school system. The investigation, which began in June 2024, was led by Jean-Pierre Aubin and Malika Habel, two provincial government employees tasked with monitoring the situation and creating a viable solution.

Why 4,000 unsold units became the prize

The finalized report, dated December 2025 and released on Tuesday,confirmed the decision to revoke the teachers' licenses based on the findings from the 2024 investigation. The report also revealed that the teachers spent little time on or refused to teach science and sex education, and attempted to make students pray in the classroom. The Quebec government has also launched investigations into 17 other schools over alleged breaches of the province's secularism law.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The investigation into Bedford Elementary School is part of a broader trend in Quebec to enforce secularism in public schools.. The report by Aubin and Habel included 24 recommendations for Bedford Elementary and 10 general recommendations for the entire education system. These recommendations include evaluating teachers every two years,preserving the standard that French should be spoken in schools, and modifying Quebec's law on public education to ban all religious activities during and after school hours.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The Quebec government's actions are part of a broader effort to enforce secularism in public schools. The investigation into Bedford Elementary School is one of several being conducted across the province. The 17 schools under investigation are all located in the French system, with three in Quebec City, one in Gatineau, two in the Saguenay region, and the other 11 in and near Montreal. The Quebec government's actions are part of a broader effort to enforce secularism in public schools.