In the north of France, in Lille, the private Muslim high school Averroès has just learned that it will lose its contract with the State from the next school year, therefore the 500,000 euros in annual subsidies and its numerous teachers from the ‘National Education. The decision was taken by the prefect of the North, on the basis of a report which reveals several shortcomings: non-respect of republican values in certain courts, hundreds of thousands of euros received from Qatar or even internal management problems . In this high school of nearly 500 students, ranked among the best in the region, the staff, teaching staff and students see it as a “ injustice ” and an ” error “.
The Averroès high school is a long corridor which serves around ten classes including that of Vincent Pieterarens, history and geography teacher.
“ -You have a chalk board ? -I never use whiteboards, markers which wear out in three days no, I prefer my chalk which never betrays me. »
With a scarf around his neck, he has been teaching history and geography here for 15 years. At the end of October, he was very surprised to learn that the prefect wanted to terminate the high school’s contract with the State: “ I was correcting geography papers and I said to myself : “What am I doing here? What am I doing? What’s the point?” I just heard that I am a Salafist, a proselyte, I correct geography papers. And I say to myself, this is what I’m being accused of… »
Students worried about their future
By signing a contract with the State, the high school undertakes that religion will not be a recruitment criterion, neither for students nor for teachers.
“ Not only am I an atheist, but even originally, I’m more of a secularist. When the high school was created, when I saw this high school being created, I said : “What is that ?” Then when I started working there, I got my bearings quickly. It’s an enormous pleasure, a pleasure of debate, of dialogue. And then we have students, when I see the little ones there, they are extraordinary. »
The students he is addressing are Oumaïma and Noha. The two young girls with long hair followed the National Education programs, which is provided for in the contract with the State. Now they worry about their future: “ We feel that there is something weighing on us. All the things that are said outside of school, we feel them. If for example, we go for interviews and we say that we come from the Averroès high school, then we will keep this label, that’s what is very complicated too. “.
“ – Reconciling the values of the Republic and Islam, how this translates into practice ? – We take the example that our teacher here is an atheist and we are Muslims. It proves that diversity, whether it’s white or white, religion or religion, doesn’t change anything. We’re just here to work and get our baccalaureate. That’s really our goal. »
Errors recognized by the high school
Éric Dufour, the director of the school group, recognizes errors. This book for example, recommended in an optional course in Muslim ethics, which contains comments on radical Islam.
“ But I even deleted it basically because it has nothing to do here in our bibliographies, it obviously contravenes everything we advocate here. After an inspection, there are always things to correct. The establishment has been in existence for twenty years, so obviously over the years, things have improved and become more professional. We are now very keen to meet all the requirements. »
Breaking the contract, a necessary decision for the Northern prefecture. Disproportionate for the high school, which qualifies as a bulwark against all forms of Islamism, because it is regularly controlled by the State. Averroès plans to take the matter to the administrative court to have this decision overturned.
Read alsoAverroès high school, the main Muslim high school in France, loses its contract with the State