Quebec Education Minister Bans Prayer and Other Religious Practices in Public Schools

Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville responds to reporters' questions at the legislature in Quebec City on April 20, 2023. Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press

Quebec’s education minister has banned prayer and other religious practices in public schools, saying aim is to preserve the province’s “secular characteristic.”

Bernard Drainville issued a directive on April 19 saying the National Assembly had adopted a motion affirming the secularism of Quebec, and that having places of prayer in public schools goes against this principle.

The directive noted that school service centres, including vocational training centres and public adult education centres, must respect the legal framework to preserve their “secular character.” However, it does not apply to private schools or indigenous school boards, according to a press release issued on April 20.

“They must ensure, in each of their schools and each of their centres, that no place is used, in fact and in appearance, for purposes of religious practices such as manifest prayers or other similar practices,” says the directive, translated from French.

The general management of the establishments are asked to take the necessary steps to ensure that “the appropriate corrective measures are taken” in the event of non-compliance with the directive, the release said.

No requests for accommodation will be heard, the government added.

“Schools are places of learning and not places of worship,” Drainville wrote on his Twitter account, where he published a copy of his order.

The directive comes after Drainville said earlier this month that he had learned of at least two Montreal-area schools allowing students to gather for prayer. He said the concept of prayer rooms runs counter to Quebec’s policy of official secularism.

The province’s secularism law, known as Bill 21, already prohibits many public-sector workers—including teachers, judges, and police officers—from wearing religious symbols on the job.

The directive notes that the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms recognizes freedom of religion but also claims the “fundamental importance of secularism.”

It also claimed that “according to the principle of freedom of conscience, a student has a right to be protected from all direct or indirect pressure aimed at exposing him or influencing him so that he conforms to a religious practice.'’

Drainville has said he can’t ban prayer altogether and that students who want to pray should do so discreetly and silently.

Religious groups including Muslims have denounced the ban, saying they would keep a close eye on how the directive would be implemented to ensure rights aren’t violated.

The Epoch Times reached out to Quebec’s Ministry of Education for comment on the concerns about the directive violating religious rights, but didn’t immediately hear back.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.