Frédérique Vidal went to the university community, which is struggling with health restrictions.

-

STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP

  • Frédérique Vidal was visiting the Bordeaux campus on Monday, while the academic world is struggling with the health crisis.

  • She called for face-to-face contact between teachers and students during the second semester.

  • The indicators relating to student precariousness are increasingly worrying.

While the university community is struggling with the health restrictions linked to the fight against the epidemic, the Minister of Higher Education Frédérique Vidal paid a visit to the Bordeaux campus on Monday.

She pleaded for maintaining the face-to-face link between students and teachers in the second semester, despite a possible re-containment.

"The goal is that all students can continue to be in contact (face-to-face) with their teachers and that it can last throughout the second semester", indicated the minister who took stock of the gradual return to class of all students, within the limit of 20% of the reception capacity.

"Not a normal second semester"

Regarding a possible re-containment, Frédérique Vidal replied: "If we have to close everything, including schools, we will close the universities, but the objective is to have this protocol which allows to have face-to-face without running risk to students, staff and the public.

"It will not be a normal second semester," she warned.

“But the vaccination will help us.

We will emerge from this crisis with young people who will have given a lot for their country, their fellow citizens.

"

In an electronics course, Simon Malard, a first-year student, was happy to have found his way back to school: “At the beginning (at a distance), we had morale but it deteriorated over the weeks and we wanted to work less and less ”.

But as the February 8 date for the partial recovery of all students approaches, some are getting impatient.

“The measurement of one day of classes per week (face-to-face) remains unclear: we don't know when or how.

Even if it is always that, it does not remain enough ”, explained Jonathan Sauzeau, in M1 business law.

Growing student insecurity

At the same time, universities must also put in place the "psy check", supposed to facilitate psychological care without advance costs, and the "1 euro meal" for non-scholarship holders.

According to the catering manager of the Crous de Bordeaux, Pascal Mergui, the activity of “U restaurants” increased by 60% last week under the effect of the “1 euro meal” and the return to class.

On the psychological side, Christophe Tzourio, professor of epidemiology and scientific director of the university's health space, described a student's state of health "generally bad".

"Our studies show that around 30% of students at the University of Bordeaux have moderate to severe depressive symptoms" (out of 56,000 students), he added, also alerting to the financial distress of the student population deprived of his side jobs.

"When we are deploying tens of billions (euros) for many sectors, it is a pity that the RSA (for students) or an equivalent was not set up during the epidemic", he said.

Society

Coronavirus: Are you a student and your mental health is affected by the current situation?

tell us

Society

Moselle: Depressed by her daily life, a "ghost student" shoots videos to "clear her head"

  • Coronavirus

  • University

  • Frederique Vidal

  • Covid 19

  • Society

  • Aquitaine

  • Bordeaux

  • Student