Under a bike shelter, a few students are seated. The afternoon ends at the UFR Staps of the University of Paris Est Créteil (Upec). “Not great, huh! » says this teacher. A professor at the sports faculty, who came from secondary school, he is mobilized with his colleagues to obtain an increase in bonuses linked to their administrative missions. A national movement born after the research programming law which differentiates the compensation system for teachers and teacher-researchers, with regard to their status.
Gathered at a general meeting on Thursday evening, the Staps teachers explain to the students why this return to school is not like the others, why they are providing lessons but no longer their other functions. It is now up to the administration to compose the tutorial groups, to prepare the internships, the recruitment of temporary teachers… “This is cracking us up,” assures this teacher.
Créteil, September 14, 2023. Staps students at Paris-Est Créteil University have only had lecture courses since the start of the school year. The teachers resigned from their administrative positions. LP/Agnès Vives
The minister’s announcements of September 7 (new regulatory framework, bonuses reevaluated this year) did not convince them. “It’s an effort of 50 million euros in a complex budgetary context. This shows recognition,” argues the Ministry of Higher Education.
In the first year of medicine, 1,200 registered compared to 600 usually
But behind this mobilization, supported by the Upec board of directors, which unanimously voted for a motion, according to the president of the university, Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé, another uneasiness arises: the lack of means. “Worried”, Staps teachers are demanding “an improvement in working conditions as well as teaching and learning conditions for students”.
The university in southeast Paris has become one of the most important, attracting young people mainly from Val-de-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, Paris and Essonne. Nearly 42,000 are registered for this school year. There were 30,000 five years ago. With unprecedented situations: more than 1,200 young people find themselves in the first year of medicine, which is double the possibilities, as many in law, etc. In five years, the population has increased by 19.5% compared to 5% nationally.
And the means? The subsidy allocated by the State for public service of 210 million euros would have only increased by 10 million, or reported to each student “a drop of 600 to 700 euros”, according to teachers.
“We followed the injunctions of the State but they did not accompany us”
“We followed the injunctions of the State, we welcomed the students, but they did not accompany us,” denounces Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé who says he is “very angry”. And to regret a situation of “deficit”, into which the State has plunged the establishment: “It is the State which sets the reception capacities”. To the point of having to make “savings in payroll”.
According to his calculations, at least 20 million euros are missing. A situation all the more complex as “we know that the increase in demographics will continue. There is a movement of populations and a very strong expectation from elected officials, particularly for the presence of the university in their territory. »
The “listening” ministry
Upec is not the only one in difficulty. But the differences between establishments in the same stratum raise questions: “Compared to Nantes, our endowment is 40 million less,” notes this teacher. The latter is all the more alert as the lack of resources, or according to him fewer teachers hired and therefore more burdens for those in place, weighs on “student success”. Students who are often on scholarships, from diverse backgrounds, etc. and therefore need to be “accompanied”.
At the beginning of the month, the president of Upec was received at the ministry to discuss this allocation which “is not up to par”. The latter says “in support, listening and accompaniment with the means at our disposal. There is not a university that is not experiencing an increase in the number of students. Upec is not treated worse or better than any other, each university has a different history. The allocation has never decreased and has even increased. »
“To support Upec in its financial and real estate difficulties”, a contract of objectives and performances on specific subjects was proposed. Or additional credits at the start of 2024. “This represents 0.8% to 1.2% of the total subsidy, that’s already that but it’s not much,” points out Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé.
A solution found for students deprived of heating at Pyramide
Symbol of these difficulties, the Pyramide building in Créteil which houses educational sciences and social sciences. Last winter, classes switched to distance learning due to the lack of heating in the premises, rented to a private landlord. From ? “The toilets are not repaired, there are still tiles missing from the ceiling. They redid the paintings in the hall…” notes this second year undergraduate student.
Heating would have been restored to the first floor, according to the landlord. But the university, which has launched several legal actions, has little confidence. Seven million euros were released by the State for the construction of a future building, in Echat, on land provided by the city of Créteil. So until then, the university management preferred to look for “a plan B”.
“With the support of the rectorate and the minister’s office, we found beautiful premises in Villejuif at the foot of the future metro, with a catering solution,” announces Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé. Students could move there at the end of the year, if necessary. » First ray of sunshine during this difficult return to university.
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