Quebec revokes teaching licenses from teachers who tried to spread Islam in public elementary schools

Quebec officials have permanently revoked the teaching licenses of 11 staff members accused of pushing Islamic religious ideas and practices at a public elementary school in Montreal.

The teachers worked at Bedford Elementary School in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood. A government investigation found the staff created what officials described as a hostile environment for students and workers.

The case became a major controversy in Quebec and led to stricter secularism laws in the province.

Quebec Education Minister Sonia LeBel announced Tuesday that all 11 teachers lost their licenses. She said the province could not release more details because the teachers are appealing the decision, The Canadian Press reported.

The investigation found teachers allegedly held Islamic prayers in classrooms and ignored parts of the required curriculum, including science and sex education lessons.

Former Quebec Premier François Legault said at the time the teachers were trying to “introduce Islamist religious concepts into a public school.”

Investigators also found allegations of physical and psychological mistreatment involving children.

A local mosque influenced some teachers, the report said.

Eleven teachers, including men and women, were suspended after the investigation became public.

Michelle Setlakwe, a Liberal member of Quebec’s Legislature whose district includes the school, praised the decision to revoke the licenses. 

“I find it appalling what was done to young girls,” Setlakwe said during a news conference in Quebec City. “I find it appalling that we didn’t provide all the necessary services to students who were vulnerable. … Their licenses were permanently revoked? Perfect.”

Following the Bedford controversy, Quebec investigated 17 more schools for possible violations of the province’s secularism law, known as Bill 21. Officials ultimately said they found no violations at those schools.

The scandal also led to recommendations for more changes in Quebec schools.

One proposal would require schools to evaluate teachers every two years. Another would require teachers and faculty to speak French whenever students are present in classrooms and hallways.

Officials also recommended banning all religious activities in schools during and after school hours. The proposal would allow for celebrations of Christian holidays, including Easter and Christmas, provided the school treats them as cultural holidays.

Quebec has continued expanding its secularism laws in recent years. In 2025, the province expanded its ban on religious symbols in schools to cover all employees who work with students. That ban includes hijabs, kippahs and crucifixes, among other symbols. Before that, the law applied only to teachers.

Earlier this year, Quebec introduced another measure to restrict prayer in some public spaces and extend religious symbol bans to day care workers. The restrictions on public prayer are primarily a response to Islamic prayer occurring in public streets. However, the bill has also drawn opposition from Christian and Jewish faith leaders.