‘It’s a mess you can’t imagine’: father
Sixteen-year-old Tarik Bouragba hasn’t been to school since October 2014, because two local school boards have refused him admission, and another will only offer an alternative program for children who don’t fit into regular classes.
The case appears to violate the teen’s right to an education, but the school boards are hesitant to talk, and even his local MPP has refused comment.
Tarik’s father, Ahmed Bouragba, is an Ottawa public board elementary teacher, and says his son is being punished for his father’s actions when he served with the Ontario College of Teachers. “It’s a mess you can’t imagine,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed was formerly a member of the council that governs the Ontario College of Teachers. He said he identified a potential conflict of interest with a lawyer who sat on the council while also representing several school boards. The problems for his son stem from that, he says.
Tarik was a Grade 10 student at Gisele Lalonde in Orléans in the 2013-14 school year, but only ended up getting five of his eight credits, failing three.
Tarik said he felt bullied at the school and it appeared teachers were punishing him for issues to do with his father or brother; things that shouldn’t have affected him. He didn’t feel comfortable there during the first few days of Grade 11 in September 2014, so his father withdrew him from the school.
A few days later, he attempted to enrol at De La Salle, another French public school. Students within the French public board may attend various schools because of specialty programs, but Tarik was told he could not be enrolled because the school did not have enough information about his academic record or the reason for his transfer from Gisele Lalonde.
There was also concern with him changing schools for a third time in high school, as he had attended Louis Riel in Grade 9 for that school’s sports program. Tarik said he changed to Gisele Lalonde for Grade 10 because the transportation to attend Louis Riel from his rural Navan home was a challenge.
“Students have free access and are allowed to choose the school they want,” Delphine Denis, media spokesperson for the French public board, said in an email. “As our schools differ very much in the programs they offer, we are more than happy to see our students choose the school that will let them live their passion.”
No media spokesperson from the French public board responded to repeated questions over several weeks about Tarik’s situation, although the Ministry of Education says boards must accept students who apply.
“Pupils who have been promoted to secondary school have a right to attend a secondary school in a board for which they are qualified to be a resident pupil,” Ministry of Education spokesperson Gary Wheeler wrote a in an email.
Ahmed decided he would try to enrol Tarik in an English public school; the same board where he is employed as an elementary school teacher.
Tarik lives in the catchment area for Cairine Wilson Secondary School in the English public board, and he sought enrollment eight days into the 2014-15 school year.
Cairine Wilson principal Kevin Gilmore sent an email to Ahmed on Sept. 10, 2014, in which he says he was “unable to register” Tarik.
He listed Tarik’s English language abilities as one reason and wrote in the email that an alleged incident involving Tarik’s brother also played a part in the decision.
“I’m not in a position to register him at the current time, at least until I gather further information about Tarik ... understand his purpose in registering late at our school, and, finally, weigh the potential impact of his brother’s history at our school,” Gilmore wrote.
Tarik’s first language is French, but he had no problem discussing his situation with a reporter in English. He was able to answer all questions in English although he frequently used short sentences. Ahmed said he’s seen students who speak no French or English accepted at a school in the English board where he teaches. He added that any issues with Tarik’s brother shouldn’t affect Tarik.
Gilmore suggested Tarik instead consider Norman Johnson Alternative School. The English public board says its alternative program is offered to students who “have difficulty in the traditional secondary school setting.”
ALL WELCOME
“We as a district don't discuss individual cases,” said Sharlene Hunter, media spokeperson for the English public board. “But it is our practice that all students are welcome to attend the OCDSB. With new registrations we communicate with the family and previous school(s) to understand the needs of the student. In certain instances, when there is a complexity of needs and behaviours, we complete case conferences to ensure appropriate supports and school placement to ensure we are taking into account the needs of all of our learners.”
Tarik ended up moving to live with his aunt in Rockland and enrolling in L’Escale high school in that community, which he said he loved.
“They took him in like an injured bird,” Ahmed said of L’Escale. “He loved that school.”
He spent a month at the school and was doing well in classes, made friends, and was playing on the school’s soccer team. Both Ahmed and Tarik agree the principal and teachers were excellent and they believed Tarik was back on track to save his school year.
A month later, they were told Tarik was no longer allowed to attend the school. The superintendent of the board said Tarik did not meet residency requirements because it appeared his Navan-based father was speaking on his behalf instead of his aunt in Rockland.
Tarik’s last day of school was Oct. 15, 2014. He hasn’t attended school since.
The family has since learned that the Education Act says students can attend a secondary school if it shares a boundary with their local zone – which would make Tarik eligible to attend L’Escale if he lived in Navan.
“I lost two years,” Tarik said. “I’m always at home and there’s nothing I can do about.”
Tarik is now the age where he should start Grade 12 this fall and begin applying to post-secondary programs. He said he wants to be a paramedic or a police officer in the future. But he still has to make up his failed Grade 10 credits and all his missed Grade 11 credits.
Tarik said he’s talked to his mother about seeing a psychiatrist to deal with the issues he’s faced this year. He hasn’t left the house much, and said he doesn’t feel right playing soccer and sports when he’s not studying and in school.
The family contacted their MPP, Grant Crack, who serves as parliamentary assistant to the minister of education. Staff there refused to discuss the situation with Metroland Media without written consent from Ahmed.
When he gave written consent to Crack’s office, staff there told the Bouragbas to attend an in-person meeting before a discussion with media could be approved, and that a meeting could take several weeks to set up. Since then, Ahmed has been told Crack’s office will not discuss the case with reporters, and his office staff have not returned emails. Crack’s office staff in Toronto also did not respond to any questions.
Crack’s local office staff directed Ahmed to have Metroland Media contact school board trustee Jean Lemay on behalf of L’Escale. Lemay did respond to inquiries.
The eastern Ontario Catholic French school board (CSDCEO), of which L’Escale is a part, also did not respond to inquiries.
It’s left the family with very few answers about the future of Tarik’s education.
The Education Act says students up to age 18 are legally required to be in school, but no one has helped ensure Tarik has a school to call home.
It’s the parents’ responsibility to make sure their children are in school, and the responsibility of the board the child last attended to enforce compulsory attendance, said Derek Luk of the Ministry of Education.
MOVE FROM CANADA
The Bouragbas have arrived at a difficult decision. If Tarik doesn’t have a local school to attend in September, he’ll move to Algeria – where there has been civil unrest – to live with his grandmother. While his dad said it’s not as safe as his Canadian home, he also said he can’t get by in life without an education.
“We suffered a lot this year,” Ahmed said. “This is a basic violation of his rights. When we tell people, they don’t believe it. It’s not an option, it’s an obligation.”
Orleans News
Petition: Help Tarik Bouragba get back to his school and don't let this child abuse reoccur.
