EDUCATION & AUSTERITY 

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THE FRENCH-STYLE LIBERAL BELIEF SYSTEM1. Public spending is, in itself, « bad »

2. Public spending should be curbed instead of increasing public

resources 

Fear of the budget deficit is becoming obsessive!

THE FRENCH-STYLE LIBERAL BELIEF SYSTEM

Solution to Reduce the Budget Deficit:

the RGPP {General Review of Public Policies}

This is:Analysis of the missions and actions of the State

Implementing structural reform scenarios

THE FRENCH-STYLE LIBERAL BELIEF SYSTEM

The aim of these structural reforms is

To adapt the government services to the needs of the users;

To make better use of the work carried out by civil servants;

To reduce public spending and restore budgetary balance and gain room for manoeuvre.

THE RGPP IN PRACTICE

The RGPP means “not replacing one in every two

civil servants taking retirement”!

The RGPP means 150 000 fewer posts to provide the

Public Service

SCHOOLS FROM 2007 TO 2012

SCHOOLS are viewed as a COST which should be curbed

The demand being made is for YOUNG PEOPLE leaving the school and university system to be immediately USEFUL

The present government advocates APPRENTICESHIPS to the detriment of school-based initial vocational training

SCHOOL FROM 2007 TO 2012

Collateral damage The dismantling of the structure of teacher

training!

Future teachers Their (initial) academic education increases (see Bologna

LMD system) Professional training (teaching skills) is reduced to a few

weeks

Teachers in post Disappearance of continuing education

A crisis of vocation is becoming apparent!(places in competitive exams not filled)

THE EDUCATION GIVEN TO FRENCH SCHOOLCHILDREN IS FALLING APART!

Not “democratisation of school”  just a simple

“popularisation of education”

The austerity policy pursued against schools is increasing

social inequalities

IN SCHOOLS FROM 2007 TO 2012 QUALITY HAS DECLINED…

poor results of France in international comparisons by

“PISA”

150 000 pupils a year dropping out for the last 10 years

50% failure rate of students in the “degree” course years (particularly in first year)

RGPP FOR EDUCATION

While 80 000 teaching job cuts have been reported in the last 5

years…& tens of thousands of cuts were

scheduled for the new term starting Sept. 2012

…. a new state of affairs came about in May 2012 !

CHANGE OF PRESIDENTIAL MAJORITY IN MAY 2012!

 The question of the balance of

public finances is one of the factors of the matter, but not an

« absolute » marker!

Education is an investment !

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SCHOOLS

A new “strategy direction” which will result in a “new framework

law” (Autumn 2012)

Commitment to recruit for 60 000 jobs in education in the new term of office (2012-2017)

Organising a very open Social Conference on “Rebuilding the French School Education System” with the twofold concern of social justice and efficiency 

UNSA EDUCATION MAINTAINS THAT …

School is an investment !

Lifelong learning is still a key issue !

Both for Unsa Education and for UNSA (national interprofessional trade union

organisation)

UNSA EDUCATION …

Agrees with the idea of increasing tax resources with a concern for social justice (calling into question past tax exemptions)

This idea would make it possible to restore financing margins, even if they are limited !

UNSA EDUCATION ASSERTS THE IDEA THAT…

…according to an “Inclusive school” rationale, a real “common basis” should be offered to all pupils (from 3 to 16 years of age), whatever their subsequent learning route, so that they are given the rudiments that enable them to act:

as enlightened, free and responsible citizens, as future workers who have to acquire or develop working skills in a demanding economic, technical and constantly changing environment