If you're ever tried to file a complaint regarding one of Quebec's schools and found it went nowhere and nothing was done, there's a reason why.
According to an ombudsman report released Tuesday, navigating the province's school boards' and schools' complaint system can be so incredibly cumbersome and time-consuming it can dissuade parents from speaking up at all.
The report found several issues including too many steps and people (four and sometimes five), flaws with accountability and lengthy delays.
Student Ombudsmen were also found to lack training and independence. Ombudsperson Marie Rinfret said a major problem is that the Student Ombudsmen intervene near the end of the process, which has already gone through too many steps and officials.
"At that stage, nothing is working right because things have dragged on too long, and solutions are hard to put in place" Rinfret said.
The report contained 19 recommendations to make the process easier, faster and more impartial, including making the Student Ombudsman the gateway to the complaint examination procedure, as well as more accessible and credible to parents and students and empowering Quebec's Ombudsman to act independently as a second level of for parents and students (similar to how it works with the health and social services network).