“Apart from a few occasional difficulties, I would describe this 2008/2009 school year as calm,” announced Philippe Jourdan, director of the departmental services of National Education for the Alpes-Maritimes. Indeed, the preparatory work of school directors, parents, and teachers has proven to be “fruitful.” Even if some forecasts turned out to be inaccurate: “The ministry had not planned any assignment of positions nor any withdrawal in January,” said Philippe Jourdan. Ultimately, the rector decided on a redeployment of nine positions in nursery and primary schools against four closed positions.
On average, nursery classes have 25 students each
88,149 nursery and primary students started their school year on Monday, September 1st, in 580 schools in the Alpes-Maritimes, compared to 90,193 in 2005. “We have observed a demographic decline in the Alpes-Maritimes in recent years, but the decrease is also explained by less significant migratory arrivals,” explained Philippe Jourdan. On average, nursery school students have 25 in a class and primary students have 22/23. A figure contested by the CGT. The union claims that children are up to 30 per class, notably in the Dubouchage-Rothschild school.
But for his first school year, Philippe Jourdan does not engage in controversies but wants to “implement the new elements of the minister’s educational policy”: assessment of achievements, school support, four-day weeks, new programs, and remedial courses during vacations. 16 establishments in the Alpes-Maritimes have already welcomed students during the summer holidays. “The goal is to allow some students to establish a privileged relationship with the teacher and thus make students more confident,” stated the Academy inspector. Certainly, there are great ambitions to reform nursery and primary schools, but we will have to wait until early March to see if it works.
