This is one of the major projects announced for Emmanuel Macron’s new five-year term, alongside health, ecology or purchasing power: education is presented as one of the priorities. The re-elected president is expected at the turning point in the world of education, after five trying years between the Covid-19, distance school and repeated protocols, but also the assassination of Samuel Paty.
There are several subjects on the table: increased autonomy for school heads, strengthening of math, French or sport lessons, but also hours for orientation. The question of wages must also be mentioned. Some, however, regret the lack of visibility in the Head of State’s project. “Before the first round, there was talk of a new pact, then in the interval between rounds, there was talk of a 10% increase in remuneration without conditions. So there is a lot of uncertainty”regrets Stéphane Crochet, secretary general of SE-Unsa.
“There is still little awareness of the challenge of attractiveness for our professions for the moment. We no longer have enough people who want to become teachers.”
Stéphane Crochet, Secretary General of SE-Unsaat franceinfo
The elected president also promises a new method, with more negotiations and consultations. Finished, the passages in force. “We want to believe it”confide several representatives, who say they are waiting to see. “A break with the last five years is absolutely necessary.” The Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, has often been criticized for being too authoritarian.
On this subject in particular, the Head of State wants to quickly launch a wide consultation, on the whole territory, with in particular the local actors. “There is an air of deja vu”warns Sophie Vénétitay, representative of Snes, the main union in colleges and high schools. “This leaves us a little perplexed because we had the education round table during this five-year period, which brought together top-level athletes, business leaders, members of civil society… It had gave rise to absolutely surreal meetings and in the end nothing was moving forward.” It warns the government of the risk of “reproduce the failures of the past five-year term”. The new method to apply, according to Sophie Vénétitay? “Listening and consultation.”
The unions also recall that many teachers voted for Emmanuel Macron in the second round in order to block the far right, without much support for his program. They would like the re-elected head of state to remember that.