Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
Ariba Ahmed says she always dreamed of becoming a surgeon, but her path to the operating room has become complicated since the French language law came into effect in Quebec.
The 19-year-old says that because of Act 96, she and hundreds of other aspiring doctors in the county are no longer allowed to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) locally.
“I understand where they’re coming from with Bill 96 but I feel that encouraging the use of language is different than enforcing the use of language,” Ahmed tells CTV News. “Before that, when Route 96 wasn’t implemented, I was still studying here and I really enjoyed immersing myself in the Quebec culture, learning the French language.”
Although Quebec universities do not require an MCAT score to enroll in a medical program, Ahmed says she hoped to send applications to schools across Canada and the United States to improve her chances of receiving an acceptance letter.
“Anglophones really have no other option but to look beyond Quebec, and now when I try to look beyond Quebec, Quebec offers me no service,” she says, exasperated.
Ahmed explains that she has to take time off during the school year to travel to Ottawa, Ont. Or Vermont, USA, to take the exam – something she tried and failed to do once already because all the slots were filled.
“All the test centers are listed. Why? Because obviously the residents of Ottawa and the residents of Vermont, they are also looking at the MCAT dates,” Ahmed said. “My next option is to maybe take it next year in January. So those dates will open in October and it’s going to be my second attempt.”
A screenshot of the AAMC MCAT test dates showing no centers in Quebec. (AAMC)
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), House Bill 96 forced it to pull all of its MCAT testing centers out of the county.
“The AAMC conducts the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) in English only,” explains Christina Spoor, senior communications specialist at the AAMC. “Due to the regulations detailed in Bill 96, which require that all business be conducted in the French language, we cannot administer the MCAT exam in the district.”
Ahmed says having to leave the province to take an exam that’s held around the world — including, according to the AAMC, in countries like Germany, Japan, South Africa and Thailand — doesn’t make her want to stay in Quebec once she becomes a doctor.
“Even though I’m an Anglophone, I speak both languages,” notes Ahmed. “But I feel like the rules are so strict that it feels suffocating. So, that’s why when I did my first degree, I was like, ‘Okay, now it’s time to look for options beyond Quebec.'”
This comes as Quebec laments a huge shortage of medical professionals and an even greater number of citizens without a family doctor.
“We are hurting the entire population because they are not able to get the opportunities they need,” she said. “I wanted to work in Quebec but with these laws, I was like, ‘Okay, you know what? I don’t really see many opportunities for myself here.’ So, we’re just limiting the opportunities for doctors here, and it’s just not going well in the long run.”
In response to a CTV News inquiry, Quebec’s Ministries of Education and Higher Education (MEQ-MES) say they “do not have specific information on whether these tests are required for admission to medical programs.”
The MEQ-MES adds that the issue has not been brought to its attention by any medical school.
“The ministry has no information on this matter and therefore cannot take a position,” said Brian St. Louis, director of media relations at the ministries.
Ahmad, who is currently studying occupational therapy at McGill University, says her dream is to work in oncology or cardiology.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/pre-med-students-can-t-take-mcat-in-quebec-because-of-bill-96-1.6939887
