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Delphine Bancaud

  • Since September 1, scholarship students can afford a full meal at the university canteen for one euro.

  • A social measure announced by Prime Minister Jean Castex during his general policy speech to the General Assembly on July 15, aimed at helping students who have been economically vulnerable since the start of the health crisis.

  • "20 Minutes" went to meet students who benefit from it at the Mabillon university restaurant, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris.

“I'm hungry”, “What do you want to eat for lunch?

"," It smells like fries ".

This Wednesday, the discussions of the students in the queue of the university restaurant (RU) Mabillon in Paris are mouth watering.

Tempted by the prospect of a good hot meal on this gray day, many came from the University of Paris Descartes, the Sorbonne, the Catholic Institute, the Ecole des Mines, Science Po ...

And for some, this lunch will be all the more tasty, because it will not cost much.

Since September 1, 2020, scholarship students pay 1 euro for their meal at the Crous and no longer the price of 3.30 euros, "knowing that the cost price of a meal is 6.60 euros", comments Dominique Marchand, president of Cnous.

This social measure was announced by Prime Minister Jean Castex during his general policy speech to the General Assembly on July 15.

The government has released 50 million to finance this device aimed at helping students weakened since the start of the health crisis by the loss of small jobs and by their parents' difficulty in giving them a little financial boost.

750,000 scholarship students could benefit from it

“These meals at one euro could potentially benefit 750,000 scholarship students.

And our projections initially predicted a 20% increase in UK attendance thanks to this measure.

But it risks being revised downwards due to the closure of certain higher education establishments because of the coronavirus epidemic, ”explains Dominique Marchand.

Test - Delphine Bancaud

Still, this Wednesday, the line of hungry students is long.

And the good news about dollar meals has spread like wildfire.

“When I heard that, it sure prompted me to come.

I can afford a starter, a main course and a dessert for one euro.

It is the most profitable solution and it makes it possible to avoid the Mac Do ”, launches Lou in L1 in economic and political sciences at the Catholic Institute.

Her friend Anaïs, enrolled in the same training, also intends to visit the UK more this year: “I could never have afforded a balanced meal at this price, even at home.

I will be able to eat more vegetables ”.

"This will allow me to save part of my scholarship"

Same enthusiasm at Valentin, a student at the Ecole des Mines, in front of his plate of fries.

: “Coming to have lunch here at this price allows me to eat dishes that I wouldn't cook for myself and not to do the dishes”.

And for Lucie, a DU PaRéO student at Paris Descartes University, who comes from Chartres every morning, this economical meal also saves her time: “If this price had not existed, I would certainly have made myself some sandwiches. or salads at home on certain days so as not to spend 3.30 euros ”.

No need to tell the UK cashier that they are scholarship holders: “All they have to do is show their card and the one euro rate applies automatically.

This prevents the students benefiting from the measure feeling stigmatized ”, explains Olivier Houdeville, manager of RU Mabillon.

At the Mabillon university restaurant, 09/30/2020.

- D. Bancaud / 20minutes

These students estimate that the benefits of the one euro meal will quickly be felt on their finances: “Over a month, I will pay 20 euros for my lunches instead of 66. Knowing that my scholarship is 400 euros and that the rent for my maid's room is already costing me 450 euros, this boost to my food budget is welcome.

And I hope that by finding a student job, I will be able to make ends meet, ”testifies Alex, a student in humanities license in Nanterre.

“This will allow me to save part of my purse, which I will be able to use to buy books for college,” Lucie comments.

"Thanks to the savings made, I will be less obliged to count everything I spend," says Anaïs.

And seeing their empty meal trays at the end of lunch, no need to wonder if Lou, Anaïs, Alex, Valentin and Lucie will come back to sit down the next few days ...

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