Culture and Citizenship in Québec Program
Elementary and Secondary School
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
A new program to prepare students to exercise their citizenship
It is with great pleasure that the Ministère de l’Éducation is launching the Culture and Citizenship in Québec (CCQ) program of study, which was introduced by some schools on an optional basis during the 2023-2024 school year and will be mandatory in all schools as of the 2024-2025 school year.
Learning about culture and citizenship in Québec
Students will learn to evaluate sources, information and arguments, and points of view, to identify the characteristics of culture and society in Québec today, and to observe the related socialrelationships.. Subjects such as culture and dialogue will first be addressed in elementary school. Studies will then continue in secondary school, where ethics, citizenship and sociology will be addressed.
The development of critical thinking and democratic dialogue
The objective of the CCQ program is not to provide specific answers to complex ethical questions, but rather to lead students to develop their critical thinking skills and ability to engage freely in empathetic dialogue. The program prioritizes an appreciation of democratic principles, a secular state governed by the rule of law, and the values of equality and respect for the dignity of human beings as provided for in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
At the end of their schooling, your child will have a meaningful repertoire of knowledge on personal development, interpersonal relationships as well as on all the dimensions of culture and society in Québec. Therefore, your child will have developed skills vital to their informed participation in exercising citizenship in Québec. The program will also lead your child to aim for recognition of oneself and of others, as well as to pursue the common good.
For more information, you can refer to the CCQ program of study at the elementary level and at the secondary level as well as to the Framework for the Evaluation of Learning on the website of the Ministère de l’Éducation. Teachers and school administrators can answer your questions about the CCQ program and its content, if needed.
Sexuality education content
In support of parents, the CCQ program will become the main method for providing students with sexuality education. However, it will remain a responsibility shared by all school staff. It is taught with a comprehensive, positive and inclusive view of sexuality, to allow students not only to acquire knowledge, but also to develop respectful and egalitarian attitudes and behaviours, to take responsibility for various issues associated with sexuality, and to make informed decisions.
The content is part of a progression of learning that respects students’ level of psychosexual development. The topics addressed will cover different dimensions of human sexuality: biological, psychoaffective, interpersonal, socio-cultural and ethical. You may review the topics addressed based on your child’s grade level. (Find links for more information below)
Parents and the school: Key stakeholders and complementary roles
The school and the family play complementary roles in education, especially in sexuality education. Indeed, it is within the family that children first become aware of different ways of living and of expressing oneself. Sexuality education begins at home, as a parental responsiblity. The school is a place for reflection, where young people can participate in discussions and learn to live in relation to others. The complementarity and collaboration between the school and the family is important to reinforce and optimize the actions of each stakeholder.
Links for more information on Quebec.ca