Launch of a “Grenelle de l'Éducation” after the national tribute to Samuel Paty
The French Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, on the steps of the Élysée Palace, in Paris on August 26, 2020. AP Photo / Kamil Zihnioglu
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The day after the national homage to the murdered professor and the indictment of seven people by an anti-terrorism judge, the French Minister of Naitnale Education Jean-Michel Blanquer launches this Thursday, October 22 a "Grenelle of education" supposed put teachers more "at the center of society".
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"
A sentence that the president used -" Professors, we will continue "- says it all,
insisted Jean-Michel Blanquer during the session of questions to the government (QAG) in the Senate on Wednesday.
She says that the Republic and democracy remain standing more than ever, confronting forces which are forces of death and fragmentation and that it must also protect each of its citizens, of course, and each of its servants.
"
The
tragic fate of Samuel Paty
, 47, has brought to light the difficult teaching profession.
The history-geography teacher was beheaded by an Islamist assailant on October 16 near his college in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines), ten days after showing his 4th year students caricatures of Muhammad during his lesson on freedom of speech.
The “
Grenelle de l'Éducation
”, which should lead in three months to an increase in teachers' salaries or to additional protective measures, was already on the ministry's agenda.
But it has been reviewed since the assassination of Samuel Paty to put more emphasis on “
the professor at the center of society
”.
Protection of teachers
“
Today, there is a subject of protecting teachers but also of recognizing teachers.
This question existed before and we must provide an answer, which is why we have been working for several months with the trade unions on what we call the social agenda and this leads to the "Grenelle of education", which will begin as planned [this Thursday]
”, announced Jean-Michel Blanquer.
For the Minister, “
this means that we must undoubtedly increase the protection measures, it is true, the security of our buildings.
But it is also true of the follow-up that must be made of insults, threats, even incivility.
Anytime there is disrespect, incivility, something that looks like disrespect, it can be the seed of aggression.
And that's why we shouldn't let anything go.
Obviously, it is the meaning of the instructions that we are going to emphasize even more in the times to come.
"
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To read also: In French high schools, the delicate but necessary debate around secularism
►
Also to listen: "We cannot ask the school to be in a situation to face Islamism"
Beyond the salary increase, "
which will affect the youngest in particular, but which could also affect all teachers, is the transformation of our system, especially for local human resources, in other words a system of National Education much less anonymous, much more attached to what happens to each teacher and to follow him in his career, which will show the gratitude of the country to all the teachers and beyond all the measures that we will take
” , added Jean-Michel Blanquer.
Reason for satisfaction for unions
The 2021 budget of the ministry has been increased by 400 million euros (500 million in a full year), in order to increase the salaries of French teachers, which is 7% lower at the start of their career than the average for the countries of the Organization of economic cooperation and development (OECD).
The budget increase must finance various bonuses, in particular an attractiveness bonus (260 million euros for a full year) targeting early and mid-career staff, as well as a computer equipment bonus (178 million euros ) 150 euros net annually for each teacher.
The unions recently noted a cause for satisfaction: wage increases will not be conditional on increased working time or other compensation, as they feared.
Before the Grenelle education, a meeting takes place Thursday morning with the teachers' unions to discuss the day of November 2, which will correspond to the start of the school year after the All Saints holidays.
Asked about the content of this day, Jean-Michel Blanquer has already asked "
all elected officials of the Republic, municipal councilors, mayors, senators, to be present with teachers on the day of this return
".
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Listen to our special edition dedicated to France's national tribute to Samuel Paty
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On the same subject
Tribute to Samuel Paty: Macron calls for unity against the Islamists
Decapitated teacher: seven people, including two college students, indicted
France: "We cannot ask the school to be in a position to face Islamism"