September 1st is the “rentrée”, the beginning of the school year in France.

However, school and education policy are currently much more present in the public debate than could be expected anyway.

President Emmanuel Macron himself opened the school year in front of the school district leaders at the Sorbonne on Thursday – a first that shows how important he is to school politics in his second term.

Education and Youth Minister Pap Ndiaye is also present, through a circular, through an interview on Thursday, through a press conference on Friday.

Since his appointment in May, there have been suspicions that the appointment of a historian with Senegalese roots, a specialist in the history of African Americans, was symbolic politics and an attempt to win over left-wing voters.

In fact, Ndiaye is credited with center-left because of his closeness to Jean-Christophe Cambadélis and his support of François Hollande.

In any case, Macron was a surprise with this change in the ministry.

Then, on June 3, the President paid a visit to Marseille, where he visited schools in the “Marseille en Grand” pilot project, which allow more freedom for institutions that are otherwise centrally managed;

they should develop individual, innovative school projects.

Macron presented his program, Ndiaye, who accompanied him, was distinguished by his silence.

The first measure

announced by the minister at the end of June was an increase in teachers' salaries;

he redeemed a campaign promise by Macron.

So far before the summer break.

Teachers' unions suspect a misnomer

At the beginning of school, remuneration is still a central issue.

In fact, by international comparison, French teachers are meagerly paid;

shorter working hours, longer holidays and earlier retirement are of little help here.

The staff is notoriously dissatisfied and accordingly goes on strike - and thus antagonizes the parents.

A vicious circle that has contributed to the bad reputation of the teaching profession in France.

This is reflected in a drastic shortage, this year more than 4,000 vacancies (out of 27,332) could not be filled.

Also to blame are the demands of the teaching degree courses, which require the final year, in addition to exam preparation, the completion of a degree, the writing of a thesis and internships.

While Ndiaye now promises that "a teacher will stand in front of every class" at the beginning of school, teachers' unions suspect a misnomer.

They argue that the promised educators are only assistant teachers who are hired after thirty minutes of interviews and minimal preparation.

Ndiaye objected at his press conference that 80 to 90 percent of the teaching assistants had previously worked as such;

they too are promised more wages.

This points to a structural problem: the Ministry of Education is increasingly using teaching assistants, including candidates who have prepared for the concours but failed;

there are also less qualified career changers.

This policy is not only questionable from the point of view of the students: the assistant teachers are paid less and are obliged to work on an annual basis.

The salary would be a lever to make the teaching profession more attractive.

Ndiaye wants to increase the starting salary to more than 2000 euros net in 2023;

that would be thirty percent more than currently (without the various surcharges).

Wages in general are to be raised by ten percent, and committed teachers are to receive bonuses.

Ndiaye is apparently aiming at the points proposed in Macron's "pact" with teachers: those who continue their education in their free time, replace sick colleagues and offer homework help should be rewarded.