It’s back to school for students in Île-de-France after the Easter holidays. This recovery is more complicated north of Paris. The teachers of Seine-Saint-Denis are on strike, Monday April 22, at the call of the teachers’ inter-union of 93. They are demanding an emergency plan for the department and the creation of 5,000 teaching positions and 3 000 of school life. In Paris, hundreds of teachers demonstrated.
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“ Money for 93 », chant these teachers in front, there Eiffel Tower. The location was not chosen at random. “ We said to ourselves that it wasn’t bad. There are still tourists, beautiful images. And then, we are visible in places where, usually, we do not really see Seine-Saint-Denis and the social movement in general », Explains Émilie Benoit, from the SUD union and professor in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine.
After two months of mobilizationshe believes that she has still not been heard by the government: “ What we are trying to tell the government is : “Don’t pretend you don’t see us“ “.
However, last week, the 93 inter-union was received by the Minister of Education. But no concrete proposal has seen the light of day, deplores Karim Bachar, teacher at L’Île-Saint-Denis, member of the FSU. “ What we feel is contempt. We are told that the State is already doing a lot to reduce inequalities in Seine-Saint-Denis. It’s wrong », he gets annoyed.
Disparities with other departments
These disparities are unacceptable with other departments, judge Sylvain Raybaut of the CGT, teacher in Aubervilliers. “ Why, in national education, is there such a disparity in treatment between students from Seine-Saint-Denis and students from Paris? In Seine-Saint-Denis, there are 24 or 25 per class, on average. In Paris, there are less than 20. That makes a huge difference », remarks the teacher.
The inter-union is demanding 358 million euros to bring 93 up to standard, or 1,000 euros per student educated in the department.
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