Legault shocked by Montreal teacher scandal, pledges to tighten secularism controls – Montreal [Video]

Quebec Premier François Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was “shocked” by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as “Islamist” beliefs.

Legault appointed Education Minister Bernard Drainville and Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for secularism, to come up with solutions to prevent religion from creeping into classrooms following a government report into Montreal’s Bedford school.

“There is something very disturbing in this case. It is this attempt by a group of teachers to introduce Islamist religious concepts into a public school,” Legault wrote on social media. “In Quebec, we decided a long time ago to remove religion from public schools. We will never accept going back.”

The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal — Quebec’s largest school service centre — said Saturday that 11 teachers were suspended with pay after a …