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Paris is preparing to welcome hundreds of Ukrainian children in schools, colleges and high schools

2022-03-09T17:16:41.301Z


Learning French, free canteen... A “school” reception plan for Ukrainian refugees aged 3 to 18 is “in the process of being finalized.


How many young refugees from Ukraine will there be in Paris in the coming weeks?

What knowledge of French or another language will they have?

What about learning?

How to welcome children in primary schools, colleges and high schools alongside young Parisians who have a good command of the language of Molière?

Since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and the sad evolution of the conflict, Paris has been looking into the reception of these children, some of whom arrived accompanied by their mother, a relative or an adult friend. Others alone, isolated minors or orphans repatriated from their place of accommodation now under the bombs...

On Monday, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor (PS) of Paris, brought together her deputies and district mayors with the Ukrainian consul and humanitarian associations.

They have drawn up a large-scale reception plan, particularly for young children: crèches, drop-in centres, dedicated nursery and primary schools, including one near the Ukrainian embassy, ​​gymnasiums made available to accommodate families, fleet of buses requisitioned to pick up families from Gare de l'Est at the foot of trains and Gare de Lyon at the foot of buses arriving from Poland, Germany, etc.

The number of refugees will be multiplied by 3 in the coming days

This Tuesday, it is the “academic” side, with schools, colleges and high schools, which was discussed.

"We had a meeting at the Embassy of Ukraine, avenue de Saxe (VIIe)", confirms Patrick Bloche (PS), deputy mayor for education and early childhood, with elected officials and especially the rectorate.

“Several measures have been put in place to provide schooling without delay for the children of Ukrainian refugees who will arrive in Paris”, assures the rectorate this Wednesday.

“The procedure is being finalized,” continues his spokesperson.

The majority of these young refugees do not speak a word of French.

“Even if we come across a few who speak French.

This is the case of this teenager who was educated at the French high school in Kiev and who acted as a translator for his family", notes Hélène Soupios-David, advocacy director at France Terre d'Asile, a unique place of reception for Ukraine, located rue des Cheminots (18th arrondissement), in the heart of the new Chapelle International district.

On Tuesday, 500 refugees were received there.

The figure is expected to triple in the coming days.

Read also“We must find solutions”: schools open their doors to young Ukrainian refugees

The rectorate details its plan: “These children and adolescents will be admitted to schools and establishments equipped with an educational unit for incoming allophone students (UPE2A).

Translate: in inner Paris, there are 55 of the 645 nursery and primary schools and 81 colleges and high schools that have a special French course system for non-French-speaking foreign children.

The idea is that this intense language learning is a step to then integrate "ordinary" colleges and high schools with "classic" courses.

Since the start of the 2021 school year, the rectorate has welcomed in these UPE2A structures, in both primary and secondary education, around fifty students who have arrived from Ukraine.

“They will be able to accommodate new ones without difficulty in the coming weeks,” promises its spokesperson.

Learn French as quickly as possible

In this unprecedented device which intervenes in a context of war and which aims to protect children, France intends to put Ukrainian parents in the loop.

The Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of the Interior will direct adults to OEPRE workshops (Opening the school to parents for student success).

The idea is to involve parents in the schooling of their children, "to promote their integration", by learning French but also "knowledge of the values ​​of the Republic".

Precisely, "the City will open its free municipal courses to Ukrainian adults, courses which are offered in the evening in primary schools emptied of children", adds Patrick Bloche.

Finally, because children who learn the language of Molière also need to eat, on March 22, a deliberation will take place at the Council of Paris.

It aims to make the canteen free for young Ukrainian refugees arriving in Paris.

Read alsoWar in Ukraine: solidarity is organized at the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris

Two gymnasiums also open their doors to Ukrainians.

“With a capacity of 200 to 300 people, these are reception areas before directing refugees to emergency accommodation centers,” says Emmanuel Grégoire (PS), first deputy mayor of Paris.

The Paradis gymnasium, located in the 10th arrondissement, operates 24 hours a day to manage the many arrivals at the Gare de l'Est.

The Bercy gymnasium (12th century), which will open this Thursday, will only welcome refugees in the afternoon.

It is rather intended for Ukrainians who want to go to Spain and pass through the Gare de Lyon.

“For the time being, it is a place of reception and orientation, not accommodation, but the schedules can evolve according to the needs”, specifies the right arm of the mayor.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2022-03-09

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