It was one of the most emblematic educational reforms of François Hollande's five-year term. Six years after its implementation, the 4.5-day week in the first degree is on the way to disappear in Seine-Saint-Denis. Only two out of 40 cities will still apply it this fall: Bondy and Romainville.
In June 2017, a derogation gave the possibility to the municipalities - responsible for the management of schools - to return to the 4-day week established in 2008 under the mandate of Nicolas Sarkozy. A major part of 93 was engulfed in the breach.
In the morning, more conducive to concentration
Last year, only four mayors - all on the left - still offered schoolchildren a 4.5-day week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday morning, Thursday and Friday), thus favoring learning in the morning, a period more conducive to concentration.
“Personally, I was in favor, but the consultations we carried out at the local level showed that the educational community wanted a return to 4 days, so we came back this year”, describes Laurent Baron, the mayor ( PS) of Pré-Saint-Gervais. Pantin, marked by teacher strike movements and the suicide of school principal Christine Renon, also reviewed his copy this return.
Soon a change in Bondy and Romainville?
For the start of the 2021-2022 school year, the 4 days should be generalized throughout the department, since Bondy will also put them in place. "We arrived in post too late this year to upset the return to school," explains the entourage of the new UDI mayor, Stephen Hervé.
In Romainville, the new councilor (various left) François Dechy, who will address the issue this fall during the Assises de l'Enfance et de la jeunesse, has little doubt about the outcome of the debates. “Given the feedback we have on the ground, there is a good chance that we will go back to 4 days. Staying at 4.5 would risk posing problems of attractiveness for teachers. They should work more here than elsewhere. ”
The impact of the health crisis in Issy
Difficulties encountered in Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hauts-de-Seine), which has decided to go back to 4 days this year due to the health crisis. “If we have teachers absent because of the Covid, we know that National Education will have an easier time recruiting replacements if we are 4 days away. Being on an even number of days will also facilitate the reception of students in half-groups if necessary. We will take stock next year to see what we decide for September 2021, ”explains Bernard de Carrère, UDI deputy mayor for education.
For his part, Malakoff (Hauts-de-Seine) will stay 4 days. “We follow the circular. It is the other cities that have exemptions. We are the exception that proves the rule, ”recalls the councilor (PCF) Jacqueline Belhomme.
Paris resists
In Ile-de-France and Oise, almost all the municipalities have thus given up, with the notable exception of Paris. "They say that the 4.5 days no longer exist, but we must not forget that in several large cities, they are still implemented," breathes Rodrigo Arenas, the president of the FCPE parents' federation, who campaigns for the 4.5 days like many chronobiologists.
"If the reform did not hold up, it is because we privileged the comfort of adults - teachers, parents - to that of the pupils and preferred to reduce the number of hours of teachers in front of their class rather than upgrading their salary. The issue of extracurricular activities organized after class has also eclipsed the fundamental debate on the pace of learning, ”he regrets.
The 4-day week makes life easier for teachers
“We were neither for nor against the 4.5 days, points out Caroline Marchand, departmental co-secretary of the Snuipp-FSU 93 union. But the reform of the rhythms should have gone beyond this question. So is it normal in France for a 5-year-old to have as many hours of lessons as a 10-year-old? "
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The representative recognizes that the 4 days make life easier for teachers: “In terms of working conditions, it is obviously easier to come to school for 4 days. This cuts down on the time spent in transport and gives teachers a break if they are having a difficult class. ”