With five of their comrades, at the foot of the statue of Georges Bernanos, they are immersed in the manufacture of anti-Vidal signs, the Minister of Higher Education. Arrivals a good hour early in front of the Crous du Ve arrondissement, a stone’s throw from the Port-Royal RER station, Inès and Ariane have a lot of fun. “It’s hard because we can’t see anyone and we don’t do anything other than get up in the morning to study at a computer. And again, I am lucky to be with my parents in Vexin ”, the first one, 21 years old, a master’s student in history at the Sorbonne, blows a cigarette in her mouth.
“The whole distance, it is an easy solution for the government which does not want to put the means in the university. But it is psychologically and pedagogically harmful, completed the second, 22 years old, in master’s degree in law at Panthéon-Sorbonne. We can’t see the end of the tunnel and that creates anxiety. ” Mechanically, and because they are also part of a student collective affiliated with the NPA, here they are once again in the street, this Wednesday afternoon. At the call of student union organizations (UNEF, Student Solidarity, the Union of Communist Students) or youth movements of left-wing political parties, and to call for the return to face-to-face lessons.
Against all distance, for half-groups
Among the few hundred demonstrators, many share the discomfort caused by almost 100% distance education for almost a year – not to mention the material precariousness of many of their comrades deprived of student jobs and forced to fall back on the food aid. “It’s difficult to find the motivation to work: we no longer have any goals”, describes Simon, 20, enrolled in a master’s degree at the University of Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine). The history student, who lives with his parents in Seine-et-Marne, says “Not to have too much to complain”, but regrets that a lot of his friends drop out. “More and more friends no longer attend class or have dropped out of school since the closure of the university because of the Covid”, he continues.
And that is why he would like the half-group TDs to reopen every fortnight, for example – a possibility reserved for students in the first year of the license from January 25, announced the executive last Thursday, in conditioning its extension to other levels “If the health situation allows it”. “We are well aware that it is impossible to reopen everythingabounds his friend Chris, 21, a political science student, a big red scarf around his neck. But it’s not a life to be locked up at home. ”
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Photo Stéphane Lagoutte. Myop for Liberation
A few meters away, while a jovial echoes “Everyone Hates Online Lessons!” Marion Barbazanges, lecturer in organic chemistry at the Sorbonne, waved aloud an unequivocal artisanal sign: “Give us back our students”. She is one of the few teachers who came to march against the closure of universities. “It is extremely unfair what is happening: the students in preparation can continue to attend class while our students are confined. We’re screwing up a whole generation ”, denounces the quasi-quadra, which pleads for face-to-face in a half-group or part-time, like the practical work in its discipline, established since November 30.
And to insist on his fear of a massive dropout: “We have adapted to teach online, but we have lost too many students compared to previous promotions. Eight hours of Zoom a day without interruption, it is not possible: they need to come back a little bit. “
“Isolation” and “loss of meaning”
This is because the whole distance does not undermine learning: it also has harmful consequences on the mental health of students, greatly degraded according to the student unions. Alerted last week, especially after the media coverage of suicides or attempts on campuses, the government (i.e. the Prime Minister and the Minister of Higher Education) admitted to being concerned about “With a deep feeling of isolation” in the student world caused by the health restriction measures.
After a meeting Friday with representatives of university conferences and student representative organizations, the executive announced some help – “Insufficient” for the president of the UNEF, Mélanie Luce, present in the procession – such as the establishment of psychological support checks and the perpetuation of a few additional psychologist and social worker positions.
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“We hear a lot about tapping lines, but that will not solve the problem of the psychological consequences of the health crisis”, regret Clara and Laura, both medical students at the Sorbonne. On campus, a first-year student ended her days last week because of poor exam results.
In the second year of a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Titouan, 23, also confides that he thought about suicide. It was two weeks ago and there is “Methodically reflected”. “This is the first time this has happened to me when I have a rather resilient profile. Since March, I haven’t had the opportunity to make a lot of friends. I live with my mother and during the second confinement I was really alone. It screwed me up a bit ”, narrates the tall blond as the parade takes the direction of the Pantheon, to walk to the Ministry of Higher Education. He explains his distress by“isolation” and the “Loss of meaning” to go around in circles in his «Piaule». And to warn, at the mention of a new confinement: “If it lasts three more months, I’m not going to take it.”
Florian Bardou
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