The Atman Center in Valbonne, one of the oldest osteopathy schools in France, has just had its accreditation renewal denied by the Ministry of Health for the 2015 academic year.
Ninety-seven students risk being left without a diploma after having completed four years of studies*. A large portion of them protested yesterday evening on Place Masséna, and a petition is circulating.
In fact, the Ministry withdrew accreditation from 7 out of the 27 schools after reviewing the files. The National Advisory Commission made this unfavorable decision by pointing out, in detail, six grievances that the school is contesting.
The Atman Center, whose president-founder Marc Bozzetto is a well-known figure, was granted its accreditation in 2007, and it was reconfirmed in 2011.
The school currently has 400 enrolled students, with a forecasted increase to 600 in the coming years.
On the legal front, a grace appeal has been filed with the Ministry of Health, and a response from the Minister is awaited. In case of a negative outcome, other judicial initiatives are being considered.
Politicians have also intervened in support of this school, which is also a business with its 100 teachers and 25 employees: Marc Daunis, senator-mayor of Valbonne, Jean Léonetti, deputy-mayor of Antibes, and, of course, Christian Estrosi, deputy-mayor of Nice, have highlighted the remarkable reputation of the institution.
In fact, it is a matter of life or death: for the students who risk having a diploma with no value and for the school itself, whose reputation would be tarnished.
