A few days before the return of students and teachers to school, the Minister of National Education, Gabriel Attal, held his back-to-school press conference against the backdrop of the first controversy over secularism. The Minister has indeed announced, the day before on TF1, the ban on the wearing ofabayalong traditional dress worn by some Muslim students.
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The brand new Minister of National Education, aged 34, is expected at the turn after the departure of his predecessor Pap Ndiaye. Among its priorities, the need to ” raise the level “by putting the package” on fundamental knowledge at all levels: in kindergarten, primary, middle and high school “.
Two hours of reading devoted to reading in CP, in CM2, “ each week, students must produce at least one written text “. In college, French and mathematics are the priority for sixth-grade students. with a weekly hour of support or accompaniment » ensured in particular by elementary school teachers in one of these two subjects for each one. The hour of technology in sixth grade is therefore deleted to ensure this hour of support. In addition, the “Homework done” system, which allows students to do their homework in college, will be made compulsory in sixth grade.
In high school, ” all 1st general students will benefit at least an hour and a half of mathematics per week “. Regarding the baccalaureate and the oral exam, Minister Gabriel Attal announced on Monday the removal of the five minutes dedicated to the student orientation project, to spend more time on ” knowledge “.
Postponing exams for a full third trimester
The Minister of Education has expressed his desire to fight against absenteeism and demotivation of students in the third quarter. ” More than ever, we must reclaim in high school not just the month of June, but the whole of the third quarter “, he explained. Sunday August 27, he had recorded the expected postponement of the baccalaureate specialty tests from March to June. The Blanquer bac, set up for the first time during the year 2022-2023, was singled out on this subject, since the specialty tests were organized in March. A decision welcomed with relief by the teachers’ unions: ” I think he was cornered by reality “said Sophie Vénétitay, secretary general of Snes-FSU, the first union of colleges and high schools.
Teacher pact
Thanks to the teacher pact, Gabriel Attal promised ” a teacher in front of each class ” in September. Last April, Emmanuel Macron had indeed presented a plan to increase teachers’ salaries, with an unconditional part (the “base”) to allow all teachers to earn more than 2,000 euros net per month, and a conditioned part. to new missions (the “pact”). This teacher pact, which comes into force for this school year, must allow in particular “the systematic replacement of absent teachers” for short periods in colleges and high schools. A device that does not delight the teachers’ unions.
Another flagship project: that of the shortage of teachers. More than 3,100 positions were not filled this year in teacher competitions. The Minister of Education wishes to launch a “ major attractiveness and recognition plan “of the profession for” to encourage more and more of our young people to become teachers and to remain so “.
Secularism reaffirmed
Headteachers will receive a set of texts “, promised Gabriel Attal. They will also have a letter signed by the Minister of National Education, which they may send to the families concerned “. ” Our school is tested. In recent months, attacks on secularism have increased considerably, with in particular the wearing of religious outfits such as abayas where the qamis who have appeared – and sometimes settled – in certain establishments “, Argued the minister, reiterating his remarks made on TF1 the day before concerning the port of theabayaforbidden at school.
School principals demanded clear instructions following the increase in attacks on secularism since the assassination in 2020 of Professor Samuel Paty near his college.
(With AFP)
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