Teachers at the Henri-IV high school in Béziers denounce the deterioration of their working conditions

Enseignants et syndicats dénoncent la dégradation de l'école publique et des conditions de travail. Diane Petitmangin – Midi Libre

Anger is brewing among National Education staff, in Béziers and throughout the national territory. This Thursday, February 1, before leaving to demonstrate in Montpellier, the representatives of the teachers of the Henri-IV high school wanted to denounce "the advanced state of deterioration of working conditions" in their establishment. Detail review.

One of the strong areas of the Montpellier academy currently concerns "Equal opportunities". The teachers at the Henri-IV high school in Béziers would like to take this principle literally. Instead, they are reduced to denouncing the ills from which the establishment is suffering, which should be faced, at the start of the 2024 school year, with a drastic drop in resources.

This Thursday, February 1, before going to demonstrate in Montpellier in the afternoon, on the occasion of the national strike movement, the representatives of main unions were keen to denounce "the lack of resources" and "the great anger of National Education staff at the advanced state of degradation of public schools and working conditions", relates Christophe Benoit, for the Snes-FSU.

54 hours less hourly staffing

The crux of the problem is the announced loss, next September, of 54 hours of staffing. Which means  need "to manage the shortage", as Christine Babic bitterly underlines for Snalc, and 'to make choices in teaching". Modern languages ​​will suffer since, in fact, the splitting of classes in English (terminal) and Spanish (1re) should be abolished; the same for the specialty "Expert Maths". "We no longer have any margin for anything that is support or guidance".

A strike rather well followed

The national slogan calling for a strike, this Thursday, February 1, was rather well followed at the Henri-IV school campus in Béziers. There were approximately 30% of teachers on strike at middle school, 42% of strikers at high school and 100% among AEDs (educational assistants).

Knowing that a project to merge AED with AESH (Supporting students with disabilities) is on the agenda to create a new profession, ARE (Assistant for Educational Success). A way to offer full time (39 hours) to AESH according to the ministry.

A heresy according to the unions, which would erase the specificities of these two professions. They demand real status and integration into the public service. AED and AESH, according to Snes-FSU, receive on average 800 to 900 euros per month for 24 hours of work per week and have contracts that are most often precarious.

"Additional resources are needed for Henri-IV. There is no creation of positions among administrative agents or AED while the needs are increasing in relation to the deterioration of the school climate, continues Christophe Benoit. Because all mention a IPS (Social Position Index) in free fall, therefore students often in greater difficulty. “We have school card problems and we are losing students to Jean-Moulin, which unnecessarily increases competition between establishments", indicates Christine Babic. "And for a few dozen fewer students, we lose far too many resources", adds one of his colleagues. 

Keep all options

Not only do teachers want to keep all the options (modern or ancient languages, plastic arts, music, etc.) "because it is an added value for families who only have school to broaden their children's horizons, but also to reduce class sizes. "In France, we have the busiest classes in Europe and the lowest paid teachers". Because in 2024, there will be no increase in salaries since there will be no revaluation of the index point. ;nbsp;At a time when national education is struggling to generate vocations and hire, we are tempted to say "Can do better…"

Adding up the various (and incessant) past reforms (bac reform), in progress (establishment of level groups in 6th and 5th) or to come (merger of AED and AESH), " not thought through enough, not accomplished or framed", the observation for teachers and unions is clear: "Public schools are doing badly and the situation is explosive".

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