Quebec Revokes 11 Teaching Licences After Investigation at Montreal School

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published May 13, 2026

Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتساب

Quebec’s Ministry of Education has revoked the teaching licences of 11 teachers linked to Bedford Elementary School in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, marking a major development in a case that has raised serious concerns about student safety, school climate and public confidence in the education system.

The decision follows government investigations into what was described as a toxic climate at the school, including allegations that students were yelled at, humiliated and intimidated. The teachers’ licences had been suspended in 2024 before the province confirmed their revocation in May 2026.

Quebec Education Minister Sonia LeBel said the department could not release further details because the teachers are appealing the decision. That means the matter is not fully closed from a legal and administrative standpoint, even though the revocation is a significant professional consequence.

Canadian media reports say a 2024 government investigation concluded that a group of teachers had created a hostile environment at Bedford school through conduct described as humiliating and intimidating toward students and staff. The case also reopened a wider debate in Quebec about public school neutrality, curriculum delivery and the responsibility to protect children from pressure or fear in the classroom.

Bedford Elementary is located in Côte-des-Neiges, one of Montreal’s most diverse neighbourhoods. That gave the case added sensitivity, not only because of the number of teachers involved, but because it placed renewed attention on how schools and school service centres respond when families, students or staff raise concerns.

According to CityNews Montreal, the school administration said the 11 teachers have been replaced and that a support and recovery plan has been put in place at the school. The priority now is to ensure a safe and stable learning environment for students and staff.

The case sends a clear message to families across Quebec and Canada: a school is not only a place for academic learning. It is also supposed to be a safe environment where children are treated with dignity and respect. When signs of fear, intimidation or humiliation appear inside a classroom, accountability becomes essential.

The decision also raises a broader question for education systems: how can schools detect warning signs earlier, before a problem becomes a public scandal? Protecting children should not begin only after a government investigation. It begins with listening to students, parents and staff before a crisis deepens.