Tired, demoralized, precarious in the face of the coronavirus ... Students are called to take to the streets this Wednesday to make their voices heard, while only a part of them will be able to resume classes at the end of January and their living conditions have deteriorated .
This day of mobilization will take the form of gatherings in several cities in France or demonstrations, such as in Paris, where it will begin at 2 p.m. in Port-Royal, in the direction of the Ministry of Higher Education.
READ ALSO>
"I'm in the red": the anguish of students deprived of odd jobs by the Covid
Objective: "to defend the living and study conditions of the students", explains Mélanie Luce, president of the UNEF, at the origin of this call with other political organizations and left-wing unions (UNL, Solidaires students, the young communists, rebellious young people, young environmentalists ...)
"Reopen universities for all students"
Many students indeed feel a feeling of injustice by being deprived for more than two months of face-to-face lessons, unlike students in high schools, preparatory classes or BTS.
"The students accepted this situation when they thought that it was not going to last forever, but today that is no longer the case", comments Thomas Martin, a second year law student at Paris 1.
Last week, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that first-year university students could resume face-to-face tutorials in half-groups from January 25.
This measure will then extend, "if the health situation allows it, to students of other levels," added the Prime Minister, without giving a date.
For Mélanie Luce, it is necessary "to reopen the faculties for all the students".
If this involves duplicating the classes, it is urgent to "recruit TD teachers and establish contractors", she pleads.
#phantomstudents
Various studies have recently highlighted a rise in student malaise.
In recent weeks, several suicides or suicide attempts have been recorded.
Luana, a law student in Paris, who lives in a studio at Crous, considers the situation even more complicated since the introduction of the curfew: "We have online lessons all day long, we don't even have time. to go out for a run, ”she says.
For several days, the hashtag "# ghost students" has flourished on social networks, expressing in particular the weariness of young people facing the lack of courses at the university.
Obtaining my diploma by teams is not my first idea .. visio jour 467646743654 #etudiantsfantomes
- Emlaml 🔻 (@Amlhdl) January 19, 2021
“Obtaining my diploma by teams is not my first idea… visio jour 467646743654 #etudiantsfantomes”, we can read for example on Twitter.
Or again: "This morning I discovered that my teacher will not be teaching the semester AND that it is up to us students to find the course on the Internet ..."
This morning I discovered that my teacher will not be doing the semester course AND that it is up to us students to find the course on the internet ... #etudiantsfantomes @univ_spn
- Kawthar ouzdine (@KawtharOuzdine) January 19, 2021
The government has expressed "concern" at the "deep sense of isolation" among students.
He announced the reinforcement of psychologists and social workers.
A psychological support check, a device consisting in financing consultations with a city psychologist for students in difficulty, should also see the light of day.
An emergency plan costed at 1.5 billion euros
Insufficient announcements in the eyes of the unions.
"We have the impression that the government is not taking the measure of the situation," laments Mélanie Luce.
The UNEF figures its "emergency plan" for students at 1.5 billion euros and calls in particular for an immediate increase in grants and housing assistance.
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
For the Fage, another student organization, the latest government announcements reflect “a lack of consideration”.
"We have warned of an explosion of precariousness within the student population," said its president Paul Mayaux to AFP.
The Agorae, solidarity grocery stores supported by his organization, have never had so many beneficiaries.
"The government is committed to a reform of scholarships at the start of the next school year, but we cannot wait, we need immediate aid," says Mayaux.
