Many second-graders have expressed their anger on Twitter after learning that their exams are being canceled.
“What is happening is unacceptable.” Workload, distance courses, partial interrupted, canceled, postponed… At the University of Paris, second year medical students are overwhelmed. Many have expressed their anger and discouragement on Twitter using the hashtag #mentalbreakup. To hear them, it is clear that the problems have multiplied since the start of the September school year.
The most recent took place after the holidays, Monday, January 4, when the students were getting ready to start an exam period. “The university insisted that we pass the partial on the spot which, in view of the health situation, is not the most recommended”, reports Marine, a second year medical student. “From the start, we received information at the last minute. We learned late, in mid-December, that we would have to come and that the exams would take place on tablets. Clearly, we could have stayed at home and been evaluated from a distance, ”she annoys.
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Once there, continues Marine, the students had to face “a lot of technical problems”. “Half of the promotion did not have internet access. It’s absurd not to have wi-fi on part of the university site. ” As for the sanitary instructions, “they were not respected”.
“We were crammed into amphitheatres and 30 m2 rooms without windows with the doors closed.” In the corridors, they are “hundreds” to cross. “When I learn that the Minister of Higher Education wants to bring back the students little by little and that we spent our partial under these conditions … who are we kidding?”, Laments Marine.
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To the anxiety of exams is added that of their postponement. “Our second event was canceled. It’s an emotional roller coaster. We can’t take it anymore. I do not know if the administration realizes to what extent such a lack of organization generates physical and psychological damage to the students, ”she worries. Pierre *, a second year student, adds: “Partials are the last straw that broke the camel’s back. We were sent an email on Monday evening to tell us that the exams the next day were canceled and without apologies. ” In essence, he says, “thank you for your understanding, see you Wednesday.” “It’s a bit dry,” he sneers.
Philippe Ruszniewski, dean of the UFR of medicine, clearly recognizes this “computer fiasco”. “You have to tell it like it is. I sent an email yesterday to tell the students that I was sincerely sorry. ” If the students had to wait until 9 pm to learn that their exam on January 5 was canceled, “it’s because the IT people rowed all afternoon to try to rectify the problem.” In the end, it was decided that the exams would be held remotely and would be postponed until the weekend.
A “too heavy” workload
On social media, many students shared their anger and discouragement. These interrupted exams punctuate a trying semester in which Pierre retains a “much too heavy workload”. The University of Paris was born from the merger of Paris Descartes (Paris V) and Paris Diderot (Paris VII). Some training and research units (UFR) have therefore been grouped together. “This is the first time that the second year of medicine has been combined into a single promotion,” explains Pierre. In all, this promotion includes more than 800 students.
Like Pierre, many students feel they have to study two programs: that of Paris V and Paris VII. “The merger of the courts was not well done. We have the impression of having an addition of programs, ”he reports. Marine adds: “We have to follow very dense courses in the form of video capsules. But we cannot learn medicine in front of a screen, in front of a slide show, sometimes without a teacher, and be satisfied with a video support ”.
“We are not asking them more than last year in terms of knowledge. It is even the opposite ”Philippe Ruszniewski, the dean of the UFR of medicine
Between these capsules, guided lessons (ED), question-and-answer sessions, continuous assessment and revisions, the pace is “untenable”, breaths Pierre. “There are many who worked 8 hours a day all week. However, the second year of medicine is considered less difficult. ” Marine, she spent her vacation revising. “There are subjects that I haven’t even tackled when I’m a working person. During the holidays, I studied in front of my computer from 7 am to 11 pm. We have endless lessons. ”
“Sacrificing a future generation of doctors”
Philippe Ruszniewski nevertheless assures us that “we do not ask them more than last year in terms of knowledge. It is even the opposite ”. The dean sees in this “impression” the expression of a fatigue linked to the epidemic and to the distance education it imposes. “They are in front of their computers and are copying verbatim what the professor says. This results in a very large volume of papers which discourage them. Excluding covid, we would have seen our students. They would not have had this impression of an enormous amount of work. ”
Add to that the “awkward” responses of some professors to emails and requests from students. “There are those who told us ” you have to get up earlier,” “says Pierre. “To those who were worried about face-to-face exams, we replied that ” life is a risky process ””. The majority of students, assures Pierre, have been very serious this semester. “Telling them that they are lazy, it does not work.”
Marine, finally, deplores a lack of listening on the part of the administration. “We do not take student malaise into consideration and all this, at the cost of a merger in order to gain a few places in the Shanghai ranking (the international ranking of the best universities). The University of Paris, which wants to be excellent, puts blinders on itself, telling itself that it will pass, ”swears the student. “The consequences of this are disastrous: some students go so far as to attempt suicide. To sacrifice this promotion is to sacrifice a future generation of doctors. ”
* This first name has been changed
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