Quebec offering financial incentives to get retired teachers back to work

The Quebec government is offering “major financial incentives” in an effort to get recently-retired teachers back to work throughout the province’s school systems.

The government says there’s currently a teacher shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quebec’s Education Minister, Jean François Roberge, is aiming to attract at least 10% of the 8,000 teachers who had retired since July 1, 2015.

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The incentives are in the form of remuneration according to their salary scale before they retired. Teachers who come out of retirement could earn up to $412 on a daily basis.

Vous êtes un enseignant ayant pris sa retraite dans les 5 dernières années? Nous avons besoin de vous!

Nous avons confirmé une mesure majeure pour vous inciter à venir prêter main-forte au réseau scolaire.

Détails: https://t.co/W0gY6geBkg
#CAQ #Assnat pic.twitter.com/mcE3w9YYTu

— Jean-F. Roberge (@jfrobergeQc) September 22, 2020

Roberge says the plan is to fast-track teachers back to their original salaries without modifying their pensions. He hopes the call to action will help fill in for teachers who are mandated to self-isolate at home.

As of September 21, 117 full-time teaching positions are vacant throughout Quebec.

The minister isn’t expecting un-retired teachers to work full-time until the summer but instead is asking for “10 or 20 days” throughout the year, vowing it could “really make a difference.”

Roberge says teachers who return to the network can work in multiple schools if they desired.

“The school network needs you. Our students need you,” says Roberge in a statement. “I invite you now to express your interest to the school service centers in your region. I guarantee you will be welcomed with open arms, both by the staff and by the students. ”