The comments of the new Minister of National Education on the absenteeism of teachers in the public have created a strong stir within the teaching community. And reinforced the motivation to strike massively on Thursday February 1st.
To take the pulse of a teachers’ strike in full preparation, the notebook of slogans remains the best blood pressure gauge. If the teachers’ strike on Thursday, February 1, had already been announced by several unions in December, there is no doubt that the resounding entry of Amélie Oudéa-Castéra into the Ministry of National Education reinforced the call for mobilization. And the recent controversy which affected the minister has visibly inspired SUD-Education: “Social sorting is disgusting / And public school is so classy” ; “Olélé Olala, Oudéa-Castéra, return to Stanislas!” ; “There is money in Stanislas’ coffers, and the money will be taken from Stanislas’ coffers!”
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who now holds the Education portfolios, Youth, Sports and the Olympics, was strongly criticized as soon as she took office for having justified by “lots of unreplaced hours” at the Littré public school, in Paris, the transfer of his children to the private Catholic establishment Stanislas. Since then, the controversy has not stopped, between the denial of her son’s former teacher to Release and the revelations from Mediapart on the bypass of Parcoursup and the non-mixing chosen in Stanislas. Enough to revive the need to defend public schools within the teaching community. “There has always been a fundamental debate on the private sector and Amélie Oudéa-Castéra has awakened this by denigrating the public”remarks Maud Valegeas, federal co-secretary of SUD-Education.
“Our colleagues are very upset, there is a very strong feeling of contempt.”
Maud Valegeas, federal co-secretary SUD-Educationat franceinfo
This particular context suggests a greater mobilization than that of December 12. According to ministry figures, a month and a half ago, participation was 1.09% in middle schools, 4.02% in general and technological high schools and 10.81% in vocational high schools.
“We have several union teams who have the impression that it is going well. We hope that this will also translate into a presence in the processions”, notes Catherine Nave-Bekhti, general secretary of Sgen-CFDT. Although his union called a strike later, in January, “the minister’s comments, which exasperated and angered everyone”were one of the triggers for joining the mobilization, underlines this representative. According to the FSU-SNUipp, the main primary school union, 40% of nursery and primary school teachers are expected to be on strike on Thursday. It also predicts 65% of strikers in Paris.
“They certainly don’t want a new front”
Increase salaries, renounce job cuts, resolve the recruitment crisis, denounce the precariousness of AESH… The demands, as they were announced in December before the arrival of Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, “are more relevant than ever”estimates Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSU. “To defend public schools, we need qualified, well-paid and respected staff”summarizes the union leader, for whom this school “does not sort students and aims to help everyone succeed”. While the mobilization of farmers continues, Sophie Vénétitay wants to believe that that of teachers will also be “scrutinized by the Elysée and Matignon”. “They certainly don’t want to be on a new front”she suggests.
Another point of tension: the establishment of level groups, at the time when the overall hourly allocation (all teaching resources allocated to an establishment) is decided for the start of the 2024 school year. “In many colleges, school heads will be forced to cut teaching hours to integrate level groups. This is for example the case of small groups in modern languages or Latin and German courses. alert Catherine Nave-Bekhti. “This reform is not funded and will be to the detriment of other measures”including certain hours in Segpa classes, also estimates Maud Valegeas.
During a speech presenting her roadmap on January 25 at the Sorbonne (Paris), Amélie Oudéa-Castéra made some promises regarding these demands. “We will work together, particularly on the revaluation of career environments”, she assured the academy rectors. The minister also recalled that a reform of the teaching competition is being developed and affirmed that she wanted “address the issue of unreplaced absences, particularly those of short duration”.
Lack of consideration and consultation
But the unions, for the moment, are waiting for action. And some consideration. “I had no response from him to my request for an audience. Jean-Michel Blanquer and Pap Ndiaye, at least, gave me a call within 48 hours after their appointment”fumes Pascal Vivier, general secretary of Snetaa-FO, the leading vocational education union.
Proof that Thursday’s strike is akin to a millefeuille of protests, an inter-union made up of Snes-FSU, SUD-Education and Snetaa-FO, among others, also intends to denounce the reform of vocational high schools. In focus: the elimination of lesson hours in final year classes and the “tipping” professional high schools “towards ready-made formatting”according to a press release. “We have a former Minister of National Education [Gabriel Attal] which insists on fundamental knowledge, but in the final professional year, there is now less of it”, underlines Sophie Vénétitay. For Pascal Vivier, teachers of the professional “are even more upset than during the strike of December 12.”
During the Higher Council of Education, on January 8, no union organization ratified the text carried by Carole Grandjean, ex-minister delegate for Vocational Education and Training. Despite this vote against, “the resources in terms of teachers and hours have already been given” in certain academies, “even before the publication of a decree and an explanatory circular”denounces Pascal Vivier. “QWhatever we do, whatever we say, we are not heard. The government is moving forward like a bulldozer.”, deplores the union leader of Snetaa-FO. He is counting on a mobilization at half mast in his sector: “We have 48 000 starters in professional high schools, and 10 000 contract workers who earn 1,280 euros net. And one day of strike means between 70 and 120 euros less at the end of the month.”