On Europe 1, Paul Mayaux, president of FAGE, discussed the opening of the admission phase on the Parcoursup platform.

If he does not think that the health crisis has "fundamentally exacerbated the inequalities at the level of files", he notes that it has disrupted the support of young people for their guidance.

INTERVIEW

Between anguish for many, relief for some and disappointments for others, Thursday promises to be hectic for the hundreds of thousands of high school students who have confirmed at least one wish on Parcoursup.

Indeed, the admission phase on the platform opens this evening, and if some will see their choices accepted, others will be placed on the waiting list or rejected.

On Europe 1, Paul Mayaux, president of the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE), calls on them "not to worry", recalling that additional phases are planned in the coming weeks.

But he admits that the health crisis may have complicated matters even more. 

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Are we at risk of witnessing injustices linked to the coronavirus epidemic?

With, for example, students who have been able to do more face-to-face who would be favored over those locked up at home for months?

"It's really on a case-by-case basis," replies Paul Mayaux.

"I don't think the health crisis has fundamentally exacerbated the inequalities in the files."

On the other hand, he adds, "we have a lot of elements that make it difficult to have access to training". 

"Sectors which are in tension"

Among these factors, Paul Mayaux cites in particular the demographic increase, "with more and more young people arriving in higher education, and no investment in the sectors to increase their capacities".

"So we can indeed have sectors that are in tension and the impossibility for some young people to be able to have training."

Another element, the health crisis and the closure of establishments made it more difficult to provide personalized support for students for their orientation.

"Young people have not fundamentally had the possibility of being supported in a very reinforced way because of the health crisis. It is complicated to support a young person from a distance and this is where the main difficulty lies", believes Paul Mayaux. 

"We need a real implementation of measures"

The coronavirus crisis therefore undoubtedly makes orientation even more complicated than usual.

Especially since very many young people are also psychologically weakened by these long months of pandemic.

According to a survey published by FAGE, more than three quarters of 18-25 year olds say they feel weakened, either psychologically, emotionally or physically, while 60% mention dropping out.

Should we therefore conclude that youth has been sacrificed?

"If tomorrow, in the weeks to come, nothing is really done, we can consider that the youth has been sacrificed. There, we begin to have a lowering of tensions at the level of services", responds Paul Mayaux, who therefore claims new announcements. 

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"If we do not have reinforced support announcements both at the level of guidance, at the educational level, at the level of human and financial support for young people, both over the summer period, but also on the start of the academic year, it may be very complicated, "he warns.

And to remind that young people, as part of the admission procedure, can "apply for SOS Parcoursup, where we can directly support young people, whether on the courses, but also on other difficulties". 

And if measures have already been taken: meals at 1 euro, tickets to go see a psychologist, Paul Mayaux regrets that "a real implementation of these measures" is missing. "The check was only partially implemented and very late on the whole of the territory. What is needed are measures that are really structural to really support young people over the long term and not just give them assistance on an ad hoc basis. "