Eight days before the start of the school year, Eric Ciotti, president of the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes, presented various educational projects for the 2014/2015 year at Victor Duruy College.
Eric Ciotti elaborated on the educational policy of the department concerning the colleges, in the presence of Franck Chameroy, principal of Victor Duruy College in Nice, and Lauriano Azinheirinha, general councilor of Alpes-Maritimes. From the outset, the main orientations of the departmental commitment are presented by Eric Ciotti:
โIt is a policy of major investments intended to offer our young people the best conditions for study and development through modern and efficient equipment. Beyond the financial aspect, an education policy inspired by the values of the Republic and open to the future is planned in the program. It aims to promote the use of technologies, encourage discovery, sports, culture, and citizenship, value excellence and merit, protect our establishments from the ills of society, and guarantee equal opportunities.โ
The departmental commitment to the colleges is described as aiming to deploy significant investments, to support the functioning and equipment of the colleges, to provide new technologies and to educate reflection, openness to the world, responsibility, and merit.
The budget concerning the Future Colleges Plan represents a โconsiderable effort of nearly 250 million euros, dedicated to 65 operations for the construction, extension, or rehabilitation of colleges or gymnasiums,โ states the president of the General Council. โIn addition, the General Council engages around 8 million euros each year for Major Repairs and Improvements (GRA), intended for the colleges,โ he adds.
The improvement of accessibility of the colleges for people with reduced mobility is also highlighted by Eric Ciotti: โCurrently, 42% of the colleges are accessible (and 73% of the gymnasiums). A multi-year investment program of around 20 million euros for educational establishments is being developed.โ
The department is keen to support the functioning and equipment of the colleges: โThe total amount of operating allocations to public colleges is 11.08 million euros in 2014. In terms of technical staff, there are 1,043 service technician workers (TOS) as of June 30, 2014. Finally, to equip the colleges, 1.5 million euros has been released to fund furniture, sports equipment, and small kitchen equipment,โ he continues.
The department also plans to update schools in terms of equipment and digital technologies:
โDuring the 2013/2014 school year, 21 colleges had 700 tablet computers for various experiments. The goal was to lighten the weight of the backpack by generalizing the digital backpack. By 2016, all college students will be equipped with tablet computers. Regarding content, the first serious game โEducazur 06โ entirely created in Alpes-Maritimes and dedicated to college students has been launched,โ announces the president of the General Council.
โDigital technology is at the heart of major changes. We are in an era of the digital revolution that is disrupting and modifying our modes of knowledge transmission. We must meet this evolution. The use of connections is increasingly important and regular. Of course, this evolution requires public support. Priority will therefore be given to establishments that request it,โ he adds.
