Saint-Jean-du-Gard: Angry parents demonstrate repeatedly in front of the school

En occupant le parvis de l’école, les parents d’élèves veulent faire entendre leurs revendications. Collectif des Parents d'élèves de Saint-Jean-du-Gard

Since December 5 and until the Christmas holidays, parents of students in Saint-Jean-du-Gard have been taking turns in front of the village primary school to protest the planned closure of two classes for the start of the school year in September.

It is a kind of picket line, but without a strike, that has been taking place since the beginning of December in Saint-Jean-du-Gard. Since December 5, many parents of students have been occupying the forecourt of the school while waiting for the decision of the Academic Directorate of National Education Services (DASEN) of Gard. This follows the announcement of the closure of two classes for the start of the school year in September. One in primary school, the other in kindergarten.

They are considering completely closing the school from January 6, 2025, after the Christmas holidays, if no measures are taken.

Closure of classes, excess number of students… Insufficient support for RASED and ULIS

“An inspector came last week. When he saw the numbers, he concluded that we would have to close a kindergarten class and a primary class“, explains Fanny Benoit, a parent of a student. A village of 3,000 inhabitants, Saint-Jean-du-Gard has around a hundred primary school students and 57 in kindergarten. However, the inspector only takes into account children over 3 years old. “Children will not be taken care of“, warns the mother. Two teachers will be laid off, if by chance there is a closure.

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Logically, closing classes means increasing the number of students in the others. For four years, the nursery school has been relocated to prefabricated buildings located in the courtyard. “The project to build new classes was reviewed by the inspector's visit.” Parents also denounced a “sterile discussion” with the DASEN services. “We had an initial response that we had no need to complain, and that there were worse things elsewhere…“

The ULIS support (localized units for school inclusion) is seen here as failing. The law provides for 35 hours of support time per student with a disability, but “this is not respected“, says Fanny Benoit. A single educator is responsible for several children, in other words, he or she must share his or her time. “Instead of 35 hours, we have 12.“

A “qualitative rather than quantitative” logic for the DASEN of Gard

Christophe Mauny, academic director of the National Education services in Gard (DASEN), assures that parents will be received and consulted. He explains that he does not want to comment on the case of Saint-Jean-du-Gard while waiting for this interview.

However, the latter assures that the National Education services prefer qualitative rather than quantitative logic. “We cannot only think in numbers or mathematics.” Furthermore, he recalls “the negative evolution” of the number of students in France. “4 000 fewer primary school pupils in Gard” since the 2010s.

He also points out that the number of students in classes is first decided by the headmaster, in agreement with his or her teams. And not at all by his or her departments, which are responsible for deciding whether to open or close classes.

The toilet flush (still) overflows

In June 2020, excessive radon levels forced the village's schools to relocate while the work was being carried out. And even though the nursery had been reopened, safely, in January 2022, many prefabricated boxes had been installed in the primary school playground to compensate for the lack of places.

Problem, “they are still there“, notes Fanny Benoit. “These premises are unsanitary“, says the mother, who gives as an example a toilet flush that is too strong. “It's overflowing… I'll let you imagine the state of the ground.“

The parents' group is asking the Academic Inspectorate to maintain kindergarten and elementary school classes in Saint-Jean-du-Gard and to be taken into account. It is also asking to exceed the “budgetary and accounting criteria” to allow a healthy educational framework for students.

A petition was launched in paper format and on the Change.org website by the parents of students. It has collected 800 signatures to date on both media.