Rector Claire Lovisi held the back-to-school press conference at the rectorate of the Nice academy, during which she presented emergency measures and additional resources for the 2012 school year, the consultation on the rebuilding of the School of the Republic, priorities, and new developments in the Nice academy.
184,818 students from the Alpes-Maritimes and 175,222 from the Var are expected to attend school starting September 4 in the Nice academy (which includes the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var) from kindergarten to post-secondary, in 1,427 schools and institutions including the new Drap high school, and the Sydney Bechet middle school in Antibes, which has been relocated and rebuilt.
The number of staff has been increased this summer in the academy. Primary education being the first priority, 15 additional primary school teachers will start their first school year on September 4.
In secondary education, 3 principal education advisers, 54 additional education assistants, and 12 prevention and safety assistants will reinforce the presence of adults in the institutions.
Additionally, there will be 65 school life assistants to better support students with disabilities and 384 assisted contracts that will strengthen educational and teaching teams in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var.
The consultation on the rebuilding of the school
Beyond these measures, the school year also opens with longer-term perspectives, it opens on the theme of the rebuilding of the school. A national steering committee has been established to develop and propose to the government a report gathering the educational choices to offer to the country for years to come, by associating a large number of partners with their work.
An academy mobilized for students’ success
The rector also addressed the priorities of the Nice academy: raising the level of training and qualification and fighting school dropout.
She also discussed the common foundation, the continuation of high school reform, support for students with disabilities (+ 1,000 students compared to last year), training openings, digital technology, modern languages, school sports, the transitional training system for the 355 trainee staff, the modification of the school calendar and finally the first national measures for 2013.
Revaluation of the back-to-school allowance (BSA)
The 25% increase in the BSA paid to families with at least one dependent child aged 6 to 18 is now between 356.20€ and 388.87€, which is 125€ more per beneficiary family compared to the 2011 return to school.
All Saints’ Day holidays extended
Students will no longer have a week and a half of holidays for All Saints’ Day but two. They will start on Saturday, October 27, and end on the morning of Monday, November 12. However, the number of school days in the year and the duration of other holidays remain unchanged with catch-up days scheduled.
As for summer vacations, they are postponed by two days (now starting July 6 instead of July 4).
