Martin, 5, the story of a sacrificed school start

“Is it up to Martin, from the age of 5, to toast for the lack of AESH (carers with disabilities) in our country? “ Delphine Ganne has been addressing the authorities for three years. But her warnings echo in the void. Suffering from hemiplegia caused by cerebral palsy, with disorders of posture, language and behavior, his son Martin has never benefited from the scholastic support to which he is entitled. But the presence of a AESH it is necessary to advance in learning. On September 1, 2022, the day of the new school year, the Jourdan-Ganne family hopes for another turning point. Bis repeated. The child, enrolled in the large section of the nursery school of the Petits pianos Lili Boulanger school in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), is offered nine hours of individual support out of the twenty provided by the Departmental House of People with Disabilities (MDPH). It’s the cold shower. All the more so as young Martin is starting his second major section, a repetition that, according to his mother, is no stranger to these many dysfunctions.

You are AESH in three years

Since starting his school, Martin has seen no fewer than six classmates. The first, in a small section, was present only 30 days out of the 180 planned. The next one, in the central part, did not last long despite his involvement and his good will; absent after 60 days due to illness then maternity, she has never been replaced. In the first year of the Grande-Section, victory! This is the first time a mate has stayed in his place for so long. But under what conditions? She shares her schedule between three children, has to run between elementary and kindergarten, has fixed-term contracts and won’t be established until 2026. “Very often, AESH bursts out of tiredness and discouragement”, deplores Delphine, which explains the shortage of candidates. “And when Martin finds himself alone, he is nothing more than a nursery. “

“Everyone passes the dollar”

To overcome these difficulties, the mother of the family was forced to suspend her professional activity and invests much of her time in trumpeting her discontent with the authorities: the municipality of Saint-Denis, the rectorate of Seine-Saint-Denis , the Academy of Créteil, the Ministry of National Education and even the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. Her requests have almost all remained a dead letter. “The school inspector finally called me back last week and she was hateful. ‘What do you want me to do?’ she replied. Everyone passes the dollar, she is desperate.

25% of the AESH with permanent contract

The situation described by this mother is sadly no exception (linked articles below). Although the number of carers has increased by 42% since 2017, with, in particular, 4,000 more places at the beginning of the 2022 school year, to reach 132,200, the profession is struggling to attract new candidates. In question? The precariousness of employment contracts with only 25% of the CDI and an average monthly salary that does not exceed 840 euros and this, after six years of operation. Every day the local media report the anger of some parents, mobilized to assert the rights of their child. On October 26, 2022, The Gazzetta della Val d’Oise revealed for example that at the Voltaire college in Sannois (Val d’Oise) only 2.5 AESH positions are occupied out of the eight available. Same story in Cherbourg (Manche), where AESH disappeared in a college and a high school in the city, despite repeated requests from families, education teams and even elected officials.

Inequalities according to families

By dint of screaming in the desert, Delphine Ganne ended up anyway “take a few hours”. Since September 2022, Martin has benefited from three additional hours per week, from nine to twelve hours. A drop in the ocean but that makes the difference. The other three children with disabilities attending the same institution did not all have the ” chance “ to get this update. “The parents have renounced the administrative burden”, observes Delphine Ganne. For her, the “combat” it’s far from over. Your child’s transition to CP is not yet acquired. It also fears moving to a localized unit for inclusive education (Which), chosen as an easy solution by National Education but which does not suit them: “I hope my son can continue to attend school in the classroom ‘truly’ ordinary, with an AESH. It is part of his rights ”.