"High school pro, future pro-liar!" says in colorful letters the banner brandished in front of the school. About twenty teachers demonstrated on Tuesday, May 16 in front of the Louis Lumière vocational high school, in Chelles, to protest against the government's announcements concerning the reform of vocational education.
The State plans to eliminate certain sectors, in particular those of the tertiary sector, from the beginning of the next school year. However, according to the teachers, this would result in Louis Lumière eliminating a second class in commerce and another in management administration at the beginning of the next school year. However, this is denied by the rectorate of the academy of Créteil. MP Maxime Laisney (LFI) joined their mobilization. The teachers have planned a new action on Monday, May 22. This time they will sleep... in the establishment!
With this reform, the government intends to strengthen technical courses and apprenticeships. He also wants to set up paid internships in vocational schools. This, according to the teachers, is equivalent to "transforming their institutions into apprenticeship training centres".
"The government wants to reindustrialize the country. He believes that for the tertiary sector, students can be trained by the bosses. This means eliminating class hours and therefore jobs. We are afraid for our seven contract workers, alarmed Céline de Kerpel, professor of management administration and union representative of the SNUEP-FSU. Moreover, the reality is that not all our students are able to learn! »
Teachers in "suffering"
In total, this high school has 900 students. Out of 90 teachers at the school, half are against the reform, according to the trade unionist. She assures that the teaching staff of the Lycée Louis-Lumière feels a "real suffering".
"We are supposed to prepare our schedules for the following year. But here, we do not know what will happen. Our minister is proposing that we become school teachers. I teach management and administration, she says. I am not able to teach CP to read! »
Maxime Laisney shares their anger. "Teachers will be forced to retrain. There will also be consequences for young people who were destined for these sectors, laments the deputy. Sticking training to the local employment pool does not make sense. If a student forms in a specific box, it is enough for it to close and it will no longer be good for anything. Vocational high schools offered general education! »
Solicited, the rectorate of the academy of Créteil ensures "that no abolition of position or class is to be expected".
