This Monday morning, at the IEM Rossetti, candidate Christian Estrosi met with Nice stakeholders alongside the youth of the Côte d’Azur. It was the moment when he decided to announce his education policy ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.
The outgoing mayor came to present his campaign strategies regarding education and he outlined 5 issues to improve, strengthen, or experiment with the school of the future.
Around the table, parents of students, teachers, school principals, and association members were all there, waiting for the mayor to present his plans. “I am pleased with this meeting. He addressed more topics than expected. Afterward, I am unsure if he will be able to implement them. They seem like very large projects, but at the same time, it’s better to have big projects even if they are not fully completed, than small ones that achieve nothing,” explains Cécile, a parent of a student at a school in West Nice.
Building the School of Tomorrow
One of the first points discussed was the evolution of the school and how to incorporate it into an ecological and virtuous program. Thus, the Republican candidate wants to replace the asphalt in schoolyards with vegetated areas. “This initiative allows for two things. Firstly, from an educational perspective, the teaching staff can use these areas to raise student awareness. Secondly, from an ecological standpoint, it prevents the reflection of the sun on the asphalt in summer and facilitates the absorption of water during rainy episodes in winter,” explains Christian Estrosi.
If re-elected, his goal is 100% vegetated schoolyards, complemented by the creation of shared gardens. A daily vegetarian meal is also planned, supported by the 30 hectares dedicated to agricultural land in the Var plain.
Sport, Culture, and the Niçoise Language
The second aspect of his project focuses on the development of the child through extracurricular activities. “In Nice-East, the Mayor regularly listens to us, not just during the election period. We have a good relationship, and recently, we were able to introduce the youth to the profession of pétanque, via the pétanque courts in Pasteur. For this youth, it was important to familiarize themselves with a very strong local culture,” rejoices Faouzi Lachelak, director of Paje association. The outgoing candidate wants all young Niçois to know how to swim and ride a bike, particularly to use the bike lanes. Finally, in terms of culture, he wishes to make theater and music accessible. He has already reached an agreement with the National Theater of Nice to welcome 6,000 children per year to introduce them to the art of Molière.
