Jean-Michel BLANQUER, the Minister of National Education, was visiting Nice this afternoon at the St Isidore nursery school.
The minister was escorted by Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice. Also present were Marine Brenier, the deputy of the 5th constituency of Nice, Mrs. Dominique Estrosi Sassone, the senator of the Alpes Maritimes, as well as the Academy Inspector Le Floch.
After a visit to the Paul Augier high school earlier in the morning, Mr. Jean-Michel Blanquer (the Minister of National Education) went to the St Isidore nursery school.
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Arriving in an unmarked motorcade, he first unveiled a plaque alongside Christian Estrosi before entering the building.
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The minister greeted the teaching staff, sharing moments with the children.
Youngsters aged 3-5, all smiles, reflected an encounter between young and old. Young ones eager to show that they too can do as the adults do.
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He then went to the rooftop where young singers awaited him to listen to the choir prepared in his honor. Nissa la Bella and then La Marseillaise were sung. Once the last notes ended, he proceeded to the press point at the back of a room in the school.
Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, Deputy President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, spoke first for a long time before handing over to the minister.
A minister who began by greeting the prefect, the rector of the academy, the school principal. He then thanked Christian Estrosi for his words. The Minister of National Education is not in Nice by chance. For Jean-Michel BLANQUER, “Nice has a magnificent past, but also a present and future that everyone can understand and grasp, particularly in the field of Education.”
The minister continued by stating that he came to Nice because he sees the city as a laboratory for national education. A place where efficiency, success can be achieved for children, thanks to the convergence of efforts by all stakeholders.
For Jean-Michel BLANQUER, the day he has just experienced illustrates the priorities at both the government level and for the city hall and the city of Nice.
First step: Academic success
He wishes for the success of students, in a place that embodies the beginning of it. Nursery school is, for the minister, decisive and fundamental; Nursery school represents the first years of life. A place to start children off well in their school life and to compensate for educational inequalities.
Nursery school is “a small republic,” “a place where children’s development is fostered equally.”
Development that depends on:
– a beautiful building
– the people (The Atsems, the teachers, all those who dedicate themselves to the school)
In two months’ time, there will be nursery school conferences in France, prepared by the psychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik.
During these conferences, the minister wishes to draw inspiration from the best practices, of which Nice is a part.
Once nursery school is completed, “life continues” with CP and CE1. An extremely important time. Nice has doubled its CP and CE1 classes, in priority education networks and reinforced priority education networks.
A fight against inequalities, for which the President of the Republic has committed. An economic commitment with new classes, new trained, experienced teachers… The goal: for every child to begin acquiring fundamental knowledge.
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Vocational education: The second priority of Jean-Michel BLANQUER
The Minister of National Education is keen to visit exemplary high schools, places illustrating the future that lies in vocational high schools. He received an overview earlier in the morning at the Paul Augier Hotel High School. A promising field with many jobs. In this place, he was able to see everything the government’s policy desires:
– the ability to articulate different forms of training (vocational education, apprenticeships, Gretas…) A French education focused on the future.
Evolution of the baccalaureate and high school.
Nice can be at the forefront due to the convergence of actors. It proposes a school dimension in full progress
Extracurricular education
Falls under the responsibility of local communities and the municipality. An education over 4 days on which the minister does not wish to go back. He will only say that he approves of the Wednesday sports proposed by Nice. However, he refuses to say he encourages the 4-day week. He wishes for each municipality to do what is best for the children. In Nice, the minister will say, the city has chosen to send the children to ski. The minister wishes to remain attentive to the content of school and extracurricular life, and to the coherence between the two.
Security issues:
Security is “very important” for Jean-Michel BLANQUER, the Minister of National Education. In Nice, all schools are connected to the municipal police. A very important element for the minister. Nice is a city sensitive to this issue after the deadly July 14th on the Promenade des Anglais.
Christian Estrosi wants “unarmed” police officers in schools. An experiment that the minister also wishes to pursue to “evaluate its effects” and “inspire other experiments.” The goal remains, above all, the safety of children under all circumstances.
He quickly concludes his speech. His last words will be Viva Nissa La Bella and long live France.
