"100% professional integration objective" for students in professional high schools. This is the promise of Emmanuel Macron, who detailed this Thursday, May 4, his reform of the vocational high school during the visit of an establishment in Saintes (Charente-Maritime), in front of an audience of young people. "I want the system to become the path to employment again," he said, after developing two other priorities: the fight against early school leaving and the revaluation of teachers' work.
Half of those who obtain a professional baccalaureate do not manage to find a job in the year following the exam, recalled the President of the Republic. To improve the integration of students, certain streams, whose post-baccalaureate employment rates are particularly low, will be eliminated in regions where they do not meet a need. An "evolution of the map of formations" necessary, according to the head of state.
To "better value the investment of students", Emmanuel Macron has unsheathed the weapon of internships: they will be paid for professional high school students from the beginning of the next school year. The remuneration will reach 50 euros per week for the latter, 75 euros per week for the 1st and 100 euros for the terminals. Everything will be supported by the State, which will spend "a billion euros per year more on the vocational school," announces the President.
VIDEO. Reform of the professional high school: what to remember from Macron's announcements and his trip to Saintes
"Even paid, we will remain mostly easy labor"
A news rather well received by the students, who however express some reservations. "In my field, it will allow us to buy equipment," says Mélanie, 17, who studies photography. "But it's still a low salary," notes Antonin, in 1st of the logistics pro baccalaureate in Niort (Deux-Sèvres). "Since I'm in boarding school, my high school reimburses me for mileage or train fees, and lunches during internships. I hope it won't be an excuse to stop doing it," says the young man.
But for these high school students, this financial carrot will not be enough to solve a problem frequently encountered: "In internship, we have the impression of having been taken to do the thankless tasks, which bring nothing to our studies," denounces Antonin. He is not alone. "I really thought I would get to know all the parts of the company during my internships, understand how it works. But like many of my classmates, I found myself passing the broom, "adds Angelo, in second in business at the Lycée Victor-Laloux in Tours (Indre-et-Loire). "Even paid, we will remain mostly easy and cheap labor," says Elyséa, at the age of 15, in the hospitality sector at the Françoise-de-Grâce high school in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime).
Another novelty announced in Saintes: "For those who want to integrate professionally from their baccalaureate in their pocket, the duration of internships will be increased by 50%," said the Head of State, extending the internship period from eight to twelve weeks in terminal, while students who wish to continue their studies will be able to benefit from four weeks of additional courses.
A terminal à la carte, which tends to reassure students and teachers. "We were afraid that the government would impose a longer internship duration while some are in difficulty and need classes," says Marc Lajoie, a photography teacher at Gaston-Barré High School in Niort. "Having a choice is perfectly appropriate," he says. "Half of us want to continue our education. It's important that they can focus on classes and the baccalaureate," says Angelo.