The Minister of Higher Education considers that it is “essential” that classes can resume on Monday “in person” but ensures that the discussion “remains open”

The Minister of Higher Education and Research, Philippe Baptiste, believes on Thursday October 29 on franceinfo that it is "essential" that university courses can resume on Monday "in person" but assures that the discussion "remains open" and that the social dialogue, which has begun, must continue. Emmanuel Macron also called on Wednesday for the resumption of classes, also at the high school, in "calm" on Monday, at the start of the All Saints' Day holidays.

For the minister, this resumption of classes "does not mean" that he is "asking students to abandon their demands" but he is calling for "an end to blockades and violence". For the minister, this resumption of classes "does not mean" that he is "asking students to abandon their demands" but he is calling for "an end to blockades and violence". He fears a "risk of death" among first-year undergraduate students, "a fragile public", while "one in two abandons their studies". Since the start of the school year, these young people "have only had three to four weeks of lessons", laments Philippe Baptiste.

As for the proposals made by the government, Philippe Baptiste specifies that he "is putting a billion euros on the table over three years for the renovation of universities". “It’s not enough to renovate everything,” he admits, “but it’s not crumbs.” The minister also recalls the promise to create 15,000 additional places in higher education. “Perhaps we need to go further,” he admits.

Parcoursup: “Changing the law takes time”

The government also promised to replace Parcoursup within two years. A promise that clashes with the political calendar, 6 months before the end of the five-year term. To replace the current post-baccalaureate admission system, it is “essential” to go through a law, believes Philippe Baptiste. “Changing the law takes time” so the first step, he specifies, “is to make as many transformations as possible to ensure more transparency without changing the law”. However, Philippe Baptiste considers it "indispensable" to pass a law, ultimately, to replace the current post-baccalaureate admission system.

The Minister of Higher Education thinks that "it is not completely impossible" to pass a law by the end of the five-year term but admits not knowing "if we will reach the end completely". “The work can be very much advanced”, in this “tense schedule”, he assures. “We have a few months ahead of us”, he assures, “but we cannot imagine that we will have finished the construction of this platform at the end of the five-year term, for 2028”. “We’re starting” but the next government will also have to look into the issue.

The minister also expects "clear positions" from "the presidential candidates" on the subject, and he "does not speak of the demagogic positions" proposed "by LFI and the RN", in particular with reference to the 250,000 additional places in higher education demanded by LFI and the youth inter-union, a far cry from the 15,000 announced Monday by the government.

Philippe Baptiste promises that "all these promises will be financed through the next budget" since "amendments will be proposed by the government to finance these additional measures for the ministries of National Education and Higher Education".