The growing unease among students, affected by the Covid-19 crisis, worries the executive.

According to Public Health France, a third of 18-25 year olds suffer from depression.

On Friday, the government announced enhanced psychological assistance and the resumption of work led by half-groups.

Insufficient measures, believe the trade unions. 

As the health crisis linked to Covid-19 weighs on the morale of students, the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, and the Minister of Higher Education, Frédérique Vidal, received on Friday student representatives and university presidents .

If they obtained the resumption of tutorial classes in half-groups, the young people expected announcements about a possible return to the lecture hall from the start of the second semester.

President Emmanuel Macron had indeed given the date of February 4 for a gradual resumption of all face-to-face.

Their expectations were however disappointed.

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Distance learning, "it's not a life" 

"Not much has changed between Thursday and Friday. There are some small steps forward but we are far from the expectations of the students. They want to resume face-to-face classes. It's been almost eight months since all they do, it is is to take courses on Zoom, to listen to the professors speak and to copy what is said ", reports Mélanie Luce, president of the National Union of the students of France (Unef).

"It is not a life and it is not a way of studying so we absolutely have to find a way so that the students can partially resume face-to-face lessons."

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At the end of this meeting with the executive, the student unions regretted the lack of immediate support, in particular financial, and the lack of progress, according to them, on student precariousness. 

More substantial psychological help

The only good news, according to the unions, is the mental health check.

This pre-filled check allows you to consult a psychologist in town without incurring any costs.

The government has also announced that the 80 psychologists and the 60 social workers already deployed as reinforcements in the CROUS would be made permanent throughout the calendar year 2021. There is, in fact, an emergency: a third of 18-25 year olds suffer from depression, according to a study by Public Health France. 

Despite these announcements, for students, it is difficult to rejoice.

Unef calls for a demonstration on January 26.

For his part, Matignon promises to continue the dialogue.