- The coronavirus crisis has placed Jean-Michel Blanquer on the front line.
- Hasty words, decisions sometimes far from the field, lack of preparation ... His action was far from unanimous.
- But the Minister of Education should remain in government, because he keeps the consideration of Emmanuel Macron and Edouard Philippe and seems difficult to replace in the tense political and social context of the return to school.
Last Monday was the day of satisfaction for Jean-Michel Blanquer. Invited on France Inter, the minister praised the massive recovery of the class for students and college students. “France is one of the countries that does the most in terms of school deconfinement. For me it was a major issue, ”he said. "I am happy to have obtained this result," he insisted. A way for the Minister to nail the nose to his detractors, reproaching him for his hesitant management of the educational wheel of the health crisis.
The first criticisms arrived quickly. On March 12, Jean-Michel Blanquer said, during a trip to Poitiers: "There will be no general closure of schools in France as we have seen in other European countries". An assertion that shattered the very same evening, Emmanuel Macron announcing the confinement and closure of all establishments sine die. Leaving the impression at best of a minister minimizing the epidemic, at worst of a man kept out of decisions relating to his own ministry. "In this sequence, he was clearly not in the first circle of decision," said Julien Cahon, education historian at the University of Picardy Jules Verne. But for the linguist Alain Bentolila, who presents himself as an evening visitor to the minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer above all wanted to be cautious at the start of the health crisis: “Symbolically, the fact of closing establishments was very strong. Not to mention the educational, social and economic consequences of such a decision. It was legitimate on his part to want to delay the decision ”.
"He was caught in his game of media overexposure"
A first government hiccup that opens the ball of a long series. Jean-Michel Blanquer then evokes in Le Parisien the date of May 4 as a privileged scenario for the reopening of establishments. It will not take place until May 11. On April 21, the Minister announced the details of the deconfinement plan in schools to the National Assembly when the arbitrations were not made. Matignon chokes. A week later, Édouard Philippe presented deconfinement procedures that contradict the minister's announcements. “The issues required intergovernmental decisions. And he had trouble weighing on the arbitrations. However, he was used to being the only master on board rue de Grenelle, ”analyzes Alexis Torchet, national secretary of the Sgen-CFDT. Jean-Michel Blanquer's reckless statements have earned him discrete or no reframing. “His handling of the crisis was erratic. Admittedly, he was dependent on scientific uncertainty about the coronavirus, but he was unable to set a course for teachers and parents of students. He also received heavy criticism in the press from the director of cabinet of Edouard Philippe, Benoît Ribadeau-Dumas, ”underlines Julien Cahon. His method of reopening schools even earned him criticism of the Senate in a vitriolic report released in April, which spoke of "improvisation". Uncharacteristically harsh tone on the part of senators vis-à-vis the tenant of the rue de Grenelle.
Critics are all the more virulent against him since Jean-Michel Blanquer did not moderate his speech during confinement or after. Wanting to show that there was a pilot on the plane, he occupied the media space. Maybe a little too much. “He was caught in his game of media overexposure. Which led him to contradict himself or confuse the messages, ”observes Julien Cahon. And by dint of speaking, we can end up saying enormities, like this May 11 on Europe 1, where the minister assures that "there are more risks to stay at home than to go to school". What causes an immediate outcry, including among parents of students. “Besides, its popularity rating is lower among French people of childbearing age. According to the Ifop-Fiducial barometer for Paris Match and Sud Radio in June, 20% of 25-34 year olds have a favorable opinion of him, and 35% of 35-49 year olds. This shows that they are more critical of his management of the health crisis than all French people, with whom he collects 39% favorable opinions, "said Frédéric Dabi, deputy director general of Ifop,
Distance learning through reality
But it is undoubtedly with the teachers that the minister lost the most points during this crisis. Three weeks before the closure of the establishments, he confidently presented his educational continuity system, mainly based on the Cned platform. " We are prepared to trigger massive distance education," he ventured on February 26 on France Inter. But the first days of confinement prove him wrong. The Cned site is saturated as well as the school life management sites like Pronote, via which the students must collect their homework. “Parents found themselves mentoring their children's homework in addition to telecommuting, and teachers were not trained to teach from a distance. National Education has not supported either, ”recognizes Alain Bentolila.
The minister also did not anticipate the lack of digital equipment for many families, a major obstacle to distance education.“Teaching continuity was ensured by the teachers and school directors who did the best with the means at hand, often by calling the families. It was the players on the ground who faced the crisis, because the steering from above did not work, ”criticizes Alexis Torchet. The ministerial injunctions which were very fluid during this period, and sometimes even contradictory, also exhausted the teaching teams: "The techno side of Jean-Michel Blanquer has taken over and he has sometimes shown himself disconnected from certain realities on the ground", analysis Julien Cahon.
"Reopening the schools was a risky bet, but he did not let it go"
Another grievance of the teachers against him: “He made the mistake of deciding that the resumption of class would first be done on a voluntary basis. This is a bad signal for dropouts who have been reinforced in their reluctance towards school, "said Alain Bentolila. As for the minister's relations with the teachers' unions, they visibly tensed over his announcements: "Before this crisis, the climate of mistrust between the teachers and the minister already existed due to the challenge of the E3Cs, the reform of the retreats. But the crisis has had an accelerating effect and their relationships seem to have reached a point of no return, ”said the historian.
The fact remains that Jean-Michel Blanquer is not a man to bow down. He is even persuaded that History will retain from this period only its obstinacy to reopen establishments at all costs before the summer holidays, believes Alain Bentolia: "Symbolically, it was necessary to bring the pupils back to class, even for very little of time. And you will remember that he managed the crisis overall in a very complicated context, with fluctuating scientific positions and political pressures ”. And the fine observers of political life could also salute a certain courage in Jean-Michel Blanquer: "Reopening the schools was certainly a risky gamble, but he did not give up on it," says Julien Cahon. “The minister carried the idea that the school had an essential role in the proper functioning of society. And the resumption of the classroom class showed that it was finally heard by the Elysée and Matignon. And the massive returns of students in class show that the social demand on this subject was real, ”adds Alexis Torchet.
"A dismissal would have a deleterious effect "
Sure of his action, the Minister does not seem to fear the reshuffle that is taking shape. However, Jean-Michel Blanquer has already spent three years on rue de Grenelle. “And National Education is not a ministry where we stay. Only François Bayrou stayed there for more than four years, ”recalls Julien Cahon. But even if his popularity rating has crumbled, it remains comfortable: “He is the 4th favorite minister of the French after Le Maire, Le Drian and Véran. With 39% (+ 3%) of favorable opinions in June, he is well positioned to stay in government, ”says Frédéric Dabi. And despite his road trips in recent months, he remains a heavyweight of the government, believes Alain Bentolila: "Emmanuel Macron and Edouard Philippe always trust him. And he is always very appreciated by Brigitte Macron ”.
Certainly, he did not come from the political seraglio and the current crisis has been able to isolate him more within government, but for Frédéric Dabi, this is not an obstacle: "He does not have much political support , but it is not a handicap. Especially since it still responds to Emmanuel Macron's wish to acclaim the expert ministers. In addition, we are going to enter a period of social tension and it is a minister who seems solid to face the storm ”. "For some, it is on the left, for others on the right. Its an asset. Because he is not a courtier and does not engage in opportunistic alliances, ”adds Alain Bentolia. In addition, finding a replacement would be difficult, according to Alexis Torchet "Who wants today to take the reins of the Ministry of National Education? Politicians are not interested in it and it is a ministry reputed to be very difficult to manage. Especially in this context. And a dismissal would have a deleterious effect, it would be an admission of failure of the government's educational policy, "he said.
A hot start to the school year
If it is confirmed to the government, the return will not be a path strewn with roses forJean-Michel Blanquer: "He will have to reassure parents and put in place devices allowing students to catch up," predicts Alain Bentolila.
And to re-establish a link with the teachers, a change in method will be necessary, believes Julien Cahon: "We must do away with too vertical communication with the teachers. We have to give them signs of openness by adjusting the E3Cs, advancing on the issue of teachers' remuneration, ”he says.
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- Jean-Michel Blanquer