Bordeaux Montaigne University and Sciences Po are introducing menstrual leave. To benefit from it, students who suffer from painful periods will have to present a medical certificate. The measure will come into force at the start of the next school year.
Missing a class or an exam due to painful periods is the principle of menstrual leave set up by Bordeaux Montaigne University and Sciences Po Bordeaux.
At the faculty, the measure was voted on Thursday in the Training and University Life Commission (CFVU), made up of elected students and teachers. It should come into force at the start of the next school year and will allow you to benefit from 15 days of justified absences per year.
🟣 VICTORY! Menstrual leave is unanimously adopted at Bordeaux Montaigne University!!!!
Thank you all for the mobilization, forward! ✊ pic.twitter.com/K9dg3bQMhm— Union Étudiante Bordeaux 🌱 (@UEBordeaux) March 7, 2024
For its part, the Bordeaux Institute of Political Studies intends to make a decision at the Board of Directors in June, but its management is committed to implementing the proposal made by the UNEF. The student union would like a length of leave similar to that of the university.
In both cases, it is sufficient to request a medical certificate attesting to “painful periods“, from a doctor or nurse at the Student Health Center, where an online form is available.
The UNEF has collected nearly 300 testimonies from Bordeaux students concerned by the problem. One of them says: “When this happens to me, I can’t stand or move around, I break out in a cold sweat, my head spins. Often on the first day of my period, I hope with all my heart that I won’t have compulsory court, when that’s the case, I go anyway and it’s really painful“.
Having to go to class, holding back tears of pain, because no attending doctor can see us during the day to justify our absence on the same day, and making an “act of presence” because it is impossible to concentrate.
Student testimony received by Unef Bordeaux
“I often have to miss classes or when I have compulsory classes to come with horrible pain that is difficult to bear.“, reports a student. Another confides: “I have already had to miss classes in amphitheater to stay at home because of too much pain, but it is impossible to miss tutorials given that attendance is compulsory.“.
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The student union’s two petitions in favor of menstrual leave were each signed by more than 500 and 700 people. A fight led alongside the Bordeaux Student Union, which ended up bearing fruit.
“A formalized rule helps prevent teachers from having to manage this type of situation. Some are more accommodating than others“, reports Clémence Delfaud, general secretary of UNEF Bordeaux.
The union leader welcomes progress in favor of gender equality. “There is a stake in success. If you have too many absences from tutorials, you can lose points and even have your scholarship withdrawn.“.
According to her, the students concerned will be able to gain peace of mind: “They are not all going to use this leave, but if they ever have a difficulty, they know that they will be able to find a solution“.