According to the 19th annual barometer of the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE), published on Monday, the cost of the start of the school year increased in 2021 for each student by 1.32%, to 2,392 euros on average. Housing remains the first item of expenditure, with great disparities between Ile-de-France and the other regions. On Europe 1, the president of the union defends the need for more help.

A return to school at a high cost.

According to the 19th annual barometer of the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE), published on Monday, the cost of the start of the school year increased in 2021 for each student by 1.32%, to 2,392 euros on average, boosted in particular by the cost of sanitary protections, such as hydroalcoholic gel or masks.

"At the start of the academic year, we can find a 100% face-to-face, but this will be subject to strict protocols," said Paul Mayaux, president of FAGE, guest of Europe 1 Monday evening.

Thus, these additional costs were estimated by following the recommendations of Afnor (French Association for Standardization).

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Housing, the main expense 

"We have two specific types of fees: the back-to-school fees for students during the month of September: registration fees for example. And the daily or recurring fees that will be found throughout the course. year ", details the president of the FAGE.

According to the back-to-school cost indicator published by the organization, the monthly current expenditure of students will remain almost stable for the academic year, at 1,132 euros (+ 0.09%) in the regions and 1,351 euros in Ile-de -France (+ 0.68%).

The specific costs linked to the start of the school year (registration, insurance, real estate agency fees, etc.) fell slightly by 0.31%, to 1,164 euros on average. 

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“Housing is one of the items that increases the most, almost 2% increase on average in the Île-de-France region, while it represents the first item of expenditure,” adds Paul Mayaux.

And the difference between the regions is great: 500 euros on average in the regions, against 674 euros in Ile-de-France, just on rents.

The cost of daily living is also higher for Ile-de-France residents.

To meet their needs, nearly one in two students has a remunerative activity, recalls the FAGE.

A re-entry allowance and a reform of scholarships

Against student precariousness, FAGE defends a back-to-school allowance, like what is already done for the youngest. "This allowance continues from year to year for the secondary, but stops at the higher, while the expenses persist", deplores Paul Mayaux. The student federation is also pleading for a reform of grants based on social criteria.

If such a measure seems complex to implement two weeks before the start of the school year, the FAGE nevertheless awaits an extension of the base. "It is something quite simple to do in the operational context so that people who would not be included today in the scholarship system and who cannot be accompanied by the parent either can be included to benefit from all the rights that are open to scholarship holders, and monthly financial assistance, ”says the president.

On Sunday, the Unef union had estimated at nearly 40 euros per student the annual decline in aid paid by the state since the start of Emmanuel Macron's mandate, while the cost of student life has increased by more than 10% on the same period. In a statement released Monday, the Ministry of Education underlines "its strong commitment to student life" in the form of "3.3 billion euros for social assistance". Among other measures adopted for this start of the school year, he recalls the freezing of registration fees or the 1% increase in scholarships.