EDUCATION

Quebec's classrooms will take centre stage in the secularism debate. Chatbots will help students create A-plus work, while others will grade themselves. And thousands of international students will be sent home.

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1 Quebec's Secularism Debate Will Ensnare Schools

Supporters of a secular Quebec scored a big win last February, when an appeals court upheld Bill 21-legislation that, in part, bars teachers from wearing religious symbols in the classroom. Months later, the secular-schools debate reignited after an investigation into conditions at Montreal's Bedford elementary school. In addition to allegedly subjecting pupils to physical and psychological violence, teachers were said to have sidelined science and sex ed and prevented female students from playing soccer-policies members of the Parti Québécois chalked up to "Islamist infiltration." The fallout was swift: 11 of Bedford's teachers were suspended and, in late October, Premier François Legault called, rather vaguely, for a strengthening of Bill 21. A political red herring? Maybe, but several other Montreal-area schools are already being investigated. Réseau évangélique du Québec, a group of Protestant churches and associations, is now calling for the establishment of an independent body to protect kids' rights to a non-denominational education.

2 The Gender Wars Will Rage On

In 2025, politicians across the country will continue to scrutinize students' pronouns for political hay. The battle has already hit the courts in Saskatchewan, where three workers' unions are challenging a new law requiring students under 16 to obtain parental consent to change their names or pronouns at school. All of Canada is involved: Alberta is considering similar legislation of its own, while, in Ontario, Doug Ford has accused schools of "indoctrinating" kids.

Pierre Poilievre has similarly decried "radical ideology" in schools-a sure sign the gender wars will carry on well into election season.

3 Thousands of International Students Will Be Deported