“Reassure us. The watchword of the senators to the Minister of National Education had the merit of being clear. Hearing for the first time since his appointment by the High Assembly, Pap Ndiaye took the time to answer questions from the Committee on Culture, Education and Communication, during a two and a half hour hearing.
“Your appointment is seen by many as a break with the secular and republican spirit embodied by your predecessor”
The first “concern” was expressed by Senator LR Jacques Grosperrin who pointed to “his past remarks”. “Your statements have always been approved and used by those who consider that there is state racism in France”, lambasted the elected official of Doubs. And to add: “Your appointment is considered by many as a break with the secular and republican spirit embodied by your predecessor”.
In a calm and composed tone, the Minister of National Education invited Senator LR to read his works and not limit himself to sentences taken from their context. “The notion of state racism, I do not use it and I even fought it […] I am a secular and republican citizen”, defended the minister, insisting on “his attachment to the Republic and its values, a Republic faithful to its values, those of human rights”. Pap Ndiaye also assumes “points of inflection” with Jean-Michel Blanquer but continuity on a certain number of subjects, such as the teaching of fundamental knowledge.
However, this trial was not to the liking of leftist senators. “Shame on those who are suing you for anti-republicanism. We will only judge you on your actions”, was indignant Yan Chantrel (PS).
“Will there be a teacher in each class at the start of the 2022 school year? »
Another major topic occupied a good part of the hearing: the teacher recruitment crisis. “More than 4,000 positions have not been filled following the competitions for the start of the 2022 school year. Will there be a teacher in each class at the start of the 2022 school year? “Questioned Jacques Grosperrin.
“There is a policy of recruiting contract teachers”, replied the minister, acknowledging that “the situation is not ideal”. According to him, the revaluation of wages is essential, he evokes in this sense increases in remuneration to 1,800 euros at Bac + 5. “There are other issues, in particular on career paths. We have to think about less linear routes than in the past,” he added.
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The status of teachers was also discussed from a more symbolic angle. Olivier Paccaud, senator LR, notably underlined the physical and verbal violence that teachers may face. “We do not practice the policy of the ostrich on this subject”, assured Pap Ndiaye.
The Parcoursup device for post-baccalaureate admissions has been mocked by senators. Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp recalled that a student sent a cooking recipe as a cover letter and was admitted. “Parcoursup is a system that can be improved, we are progressing from year to year. Parcoursup is not perfect but the previous situation was particularly unfair”, defended the minister, recalling that the health crisis had not simplified things.
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The minister was also questioned about the wearing of Islamic outfits at school, after the publication of a note from territorial intelligence. The president of the group Les Républicains, Bruno Retailleau, had asked the minister to be “intransigent in the face of political Islam”.
The Minister of National Education, Pap Ndiaye, said he had launched a collection of information on the wearing of ostentatious religious symbols in schools.
Pap Ndiaye reminded the senators of the existing mechanisms and assured that he had “a very solid team”. “There are “Value of the Republic” teams for attacks on secularism as well as the Council of Elders of Secularism”, he indicated, specifying that there were “points of vigilance in certain places”. .
During this hearing, the Minister also wanted to be reassuring about the situation of AESH (accompanying students with disabilities), or about the school of the future experienced in Marseille. Before the Chamber of Territories, Pap Ndiaye said he wanted to act in “consultation with local elected officials to avoid verticality coming from the rue de Grenelle”.
“Know that you will have with me an attentive partner who respects your prerogatives”, he concluded, ensuring, for the moment, the gratitude of the senators.
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