Frédérique Vidal tries to calm things down. Embroiled in this controversy after asking the CNRS for an investigation into "Islamo-leftism" at the university, the Minister of Higher Education and Research regretted Monday February 22 on RTL that his request for an investigation into "Islamo-leftism" at the university turned into a "controversy", reassuring that his priority was "the question of students [in the face of Covid-19]".
More than 600 academics (teachers, researchers ...) demanded his resignation on Saturday, in a column published by the newspaper Le Monde.
"There is no need to make a controversy"
After an eventful week, the government spokesman, Gabriel Attal, showed his willingness to end the controversy on Sunday.
Frédérique Vidal said Monday "regret" that his request has turned into controversy.
"I say that I want an inventory on this subject, there is no need to make a controversy," she said.
"Investigations, there are permanently", she justified.
Her report - "an inventory on the subject" - is expected "in the coming months", she said.
Seeming in a hurry to sweep this controversy aside, the minister insisted: "Today, what concerns me is the issue of students […]. How do we ensure that students can get out of this crisis by not being desperate. "
Psychological journey
The "psy check" promised to young people by the government concerns the first week of February 1,200 students, then 2,000 students per week, she said.
These young people are "taken care of" in a care course by city psychologists.
In addition, more than 75% of universities have for the moment modified their timetables to allow students to return to face-to-face lessons one day a week.
Some 90% of students are affected by these new schedules: among them, 60% return, 40% prefer to stay in person, said the minister.
With AFP
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