“Physiotherapy students, disabled students,” chant in unison the thirty or so students present at the demonstration. “Our handicap is having no status, not even that of a student. Isn’t that crazy?” questions Anthony Puzo, secretary of the national federation of physiotherapy students. Without student status, they do not have access to university student social benefits. Yet they have to finance school tuition fees that can reach 7500 euros in Paris. “I manage with 4500 euros per year in Nice. You must add the non-reimbursed costs of mandatory internships in hospitals, totaling around 700 euros per month. Medical students and nursing interns are compensated,” explains Anthony. They all criticize the financial selection process of physiotherapy schools.
Having completed around 4000 hours of courses, equivalent to a Master’s level at the university, only a two-year undergraduate degree is recognized for physiotherapy students. “We would like to be included in the LMD reform: to be recognized as students, to have a degree, and to benefit from the European standardization of our studies,” states a student. In France, 6000 young people take physiotherapy courses, including 90 in Nice. Tired of being considered as “sub-students,” all are determined to achieve concrete progress. They do not lose their sense of humor, though. The day before yesterday, they stopped passersby to offer a massage in the middle of the sidewalks. “They’re appealing to our emotions here!” could be heard among the bystanders.
