The 2nd chance school in Nîmes, a springboard to the future

Making learning concrete

Same enthusiasm among Mathias, 21 years old, who returns to school after 18 months of dropping out of school, "for reasons that I prefer to keep to myself. Here, it's different. We are really listened to. We are taken into account and we are helped in a very concrete way to find our way." 

Concrete is indeed a component of the E2C dear to the heart of Giovanna Casu, the director of the Nîmes establishment."Each course is unique, just as each student is different. Here, we adapt to each of them by offering them tailor-made support. All in a very concrete way. Even for math, we make sure students practice as much as possible. This is how they remember best and how the learning really finds meaning in their eyes and how they grasp it.

At the end, 60% of students find training or employment  

A concept that proves itself year after year. "In 2023, out of 155 young people, 60% found a job or entered qualifying training". Besides, word of mouth is no mistake. "For three years, we have received more and more spontaneous applications from young people. Whereas traditionally, they are sent to us rather by organizations such as the Local Mission." Students affected by twists of fate: depression, school phobia, DYS poorly or not taken into account load… "The profiles are numerous. The only criterion to be welcomed here is to be motivated.

Then the 16 members of the teaching team, each specialist in their field, are there to guide and suggest. Like Fabien, trainer, who leads a small group of students to discover the countless professions of the sea. "It's a windfall for a young person looking for a job. The opportunities and opportunities are numerous."Moreover, convinced that a few dozen kilometers from the coast, the training will be beneficial, the E2C of Nîmes is opening a deckhand certification in March. Accessible to both girls and boys. Moreover, for this first class, three young women (out of 12 participants) are taking the plunge.

The origins of the E2C concept

The 2nd Chance School (E2C) comes from the principles contained in the White Paper Teaching and learning – Towards the cognitive society, presented at the initiative of Édith CRESSON (then European Commissioner in charge of Science, Research and Development and former Prime Minister) at the Summit of Heads of State in Madrid in December 1995, then adopted by the Ministers of Education of the Member States of the European Union. This work identifies five cross-cutting objectives. Do more to take into account their social situation and their feeling of exclusion; involve companies from the outset in the training effort, particularly vocational training; use active pedagogies that facilitate action rather than passive learning. The strong characteristic of the École de la 2e Chance system is to focus on segments of the population particularly vulnerable: young people, who left without qualifications or with a BEP, CAP, BAC from the school system and far from employment, and who must, today, face marked social and human difficulties.