Helping young people stay in school: gestures that count

In Quebec, collective efforts have paid off in recent years: the graduation rate measured at seven years after high school entry rose from 76% to 84% between 2013 and 2023. However, there was a slight decline of 2% for the year 2023–2024, reminding us of the importance of continuing the work undertaken. 

In fact, 82%¹ of students in the 2017–2018 cohort had obtained their diploma or qualification seven years after entering high school. 

“As parents, our support and attitudes are crucial to our children’s sense of competence and motivation,” says Isabelle Grenier, President and CEO of Kaleido. “This first decline in 16 years also reminds us that, as a society, we must continue to talk about staying in school and pursue our efforts to ensure that our young people move confidently into the future.” 

Your child needs more than just good grades to stay in school. Their ability to manage their emotions, believe in themselves, ask for help or bounce back from a challenge has a huge impact on their motivation. By reinforcing these emotional skills, you’re giving them a solid foundation so they can move forward with confidence.  

Parents play an essential role in school motivation—sometimes more than you think. A number of simple gestures allow you to emphasize the importance of school perseverance on a daily basis and can make a real difference to your child’s progress: 

1. Encourage your child regularly: recognize their efforts, listen to them and nurture their self-esteem. This will make them want to keep going, even when it’s hard. 
2. Create a reassuring home environment: stable routines, a calm climate and a small study area will help them to concentrate and develop good habits. 
3. Get involved in their school life: show them that you’re with them on their journey by taking part in meetings, monitoring their progress and maintaining a good relationship with their teachers. 
4. Foster positive relationships at school: a significant adult (a teacher or coach, for example) can become a valuable point of reference and motivator for your child. 
5. Encourage participation in extracurricular activities: sports, the arts and community involvement will build self-esteem, help them discover their strengths and feel good about school. 

A young person who can see themselves in the future will naturally be more motivated in the present. By discussing their passions, the careers that inspire them, possible programs of study or the strengths they possess, you will help them give concrete meaning to their efforts today. And the more concrete their project becomes, the more they will find the energy to stick with it. 

“This vision of the future isn’t just an abstract idea: it’s based on very real benefits,” emphasizes Mélanie Kéroack, General Manager at Éducaide, an organization that supports young people from less privileged backgrounds in order to encourage them to stay in school. 

A study commissioned by the Réseau québécois pour la réussite éducative (RQRE) shows that obtaining a post-secondary diploma opens doors throughout life. The employment rate increases with education level, and education confers a significant wage advantage for adults aged 25 to 64 in Quebec. Over a lifetime, this represents additional income ranging from $340,000 for a DES to more than $1.3 million for a bachelor’s degree.²  

• Learn more about the study’s findings in the article “Des données révélatrices” in La Presse.            

Looking to the future is important... but knowing that financial support exists to make that future possible changes everything. For many young people, anxiety about the cost of post-secondary education can become a barrier. Conversely, feeling that they have a safety net in place, however modest, can make their projects more realistic and accessible. 

“When you add a boost like education savings, you create a powerful engine of engagement. An RESP isn’t just a financial tool: it sends a powerful message to your child. A message that says: ‘Your future matters, and we’re planning it with you,’” says Isabelle Grenier of Kaleido. 

And this support does not rely solely on your financial efforts: thanks to the government grants available through the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), your savings can increase by 30% to 60%.³ For many parents, these grants make post-secondary education a real possibility.   

One thing is certain: school perseverance is built on a multitude of small gestures: encouragement, listening, creating a reassuring climate, talking about the future, offering accessible financial support... Despite the challenges and inequalities that persist, every action taken by a parent, relative or significant adult can boost a young person’s motivation and help them believe in their possibilities. 

“Every child has an immense will to move forward, even when conditions are difficult. Our role is to recognize this perseverance, reduce the obstacles they face and nurture their confidence. When we give them the means to believe in their dreams, they find the strength to make them come true,” concludes Mélanie Kéroack of Éducaide. 

Every gesture counts. And the next one can come from you!  Join the movement from February 16 to 20, 2026, and celebrate with us the 22nd edition of Hooked on School Days.