To defend his candidacy for the legislative elections, Jean-Michel Blanquer tried this Friday to praise the “extraordinary” assets of Loiret, where he is a candidate: “Loiret is typical of this central region which is so significant in France with historical qualities and geographical, a very great richness of its history, which dates back to the Paleolithic, ”he said on BFMTV.
Made up of so many generalities that it could be true for all French territories, this answer marked the start of a long series of interviews including the Minister of National Education - who is otherwise very busy with the return of high school compulsory math - had a hard time letting go.
🎙 In the legislative elections, Jean-Michel Blanquer is running in the Loiret.
But why the Loiret?
His answer.
pic.twitter.com/fzSisHtkTe
— RMC (@RMCInfo) May 13, 2022
The presenter of the program Apolline de Malherbe tried to obtain details on this preference for Loiret: "We can say that of any department", she relaunched, sporting a dubious pout.
And the Minister to wade again: “There are challenges, a feeling of isolation, employment problems”.
Here again, vague characteristics, specific to a large part of the rural territory.
The Loiret is “1h15 from Paris”
Second reminder, same strategy: “Loiret is first and foremost about training subjects, a place where there is no higher education.
The medical desert (…), the subjects of economic development”.
Jean-Michel Blanquer ends up giving two specificities: the Loiret is “1h15 from Paris” and has “three motorways and the train”.
Would the minister find it difficult to defend the place of his candidacy?
After a third reminder, Jean-Michel Blanquer finally clarified the substance of his thought: “You have with Loiret an example of the problems of France today.
I think it's very important to roll up our sleeves for this second five-year term for the problems that have not yet been resolved,” he said.
A way of illustrating a recurring argument: the legislative election is largely a national election, the deputies decide on laws which concern the whole country.
Jean-Michel Blanquer, like a very large part of the candidates would therefore not need local roots to feel legitimate to apply.
Math, another pebble in his shoe
Another sequence where the minister had to show strength of conviction: the return of compulsory mathematics in high school.
Jean-Michel Blanquer, whose five-year term has been heckled, assured this Friday that there will be "the necessary pool" of mathematics teachers at the start of the next school year in high schools, reacting to concerns about a drop in candidates eligible for competitions of teachers.
Read alsoReturn to mathematics in high school: why it might get stuck
Teachers' unions are concerned about this drop in National Education recruitment competitions, particularly in mathematics.
According to the first results of the External Capes in Mathematics, published this week, only 816 candidates are eligible, for 1,035 positions.
The situation is all the more worrying as the return of mathematics in the common core from the First class must be done from the next school year, which will therefore require more teachers.
“We see it for certain competitions, not only for National Education, we have a subject of vocation”, recognized the minister.
“It is a substantive work that we do to (in) arouse” and “it starts with the attractiveness of the profession”, he added, citing “the beginning of revaluation” of the wages (…) of the most young people” teachers, “165 euros per month to go towards 2,000”.
A national project that the potential future deputy will have the opportunity to transform into new laws, if he is elected in the Loiret.
