University strikes draw to close

MOST ESTABLISHMENTS THAT CLOSED IN FEBRUARY IN PROTEST AT HIGHER EDUCATION REFORMS HAVE NOW REOPENED AS EXAMS APPROACH. UNIVERSITIES leading the protest movement against plans to reform

higher education have agreed to reopen after months of closure. The most radical establishments, including Lille III, Paris III and Paris IV (the Sorbonne) have ended their strikes as have

Paris I and Saint-Etienne. Only six French universities remain closed for the time being – Toulouse II, Aix Marseille I, Caen, Amiens, Reims and Nancy II. The closures followed a call by

unions for nationwide strikes back in February. At the Sorbonne, which has been closed for the longest, staff said they agreed to reopen so as not to penalise students, whose exams are

approaching. Street protests have been diminishing in numbers week by week. The protests, which have also been supported by many students, are against plans by Higher Education Minister

Valérie Pécresse to change the status of lecturer-researchers, with staff fearing they may be forced to spend more time teaching to the detriment of research. Opponents to the plans also

fear it would give too much power to university presidents to dictate hours and would make them less independent. Other issues included plans to reforms to methods of training and

recruitment of university teaching staff and plans for staffing cuts. Modifications were made to the decree on lecturer’s status in March in discussion with unions and it was made official

at the end of last month. Pécresse has also now promised that no university jobs will be lost next year. The minister has put in place measures to support those students who will have to

take their exams later than expected due to the closures, including boosts to grants. It remains to be seen how the exams will be organised with so many hours of missed lectures for students

and preparation time for staff. At Paris III protestors have threatened to strike again once exams are over. Photo:Ptit@l Alexandre Moreau