Emmanuel Macron will launch a citizen convention on school rhythms and holidays. Sophie Venetitay, secretary general of the SNES-FSU union, castigates this Saturday on RMC a “off-topic idea” on Saturday and sees it as a new offensive from the Head of State against the teachers.
Emmanuel Macron will launch in June a new citizen convention on “the times of the child” where vacation times and school hours will be discussed, subjects that concern the daily life of millions of French people but also their share of irritants. “It’s a completely off-topic idea”, tackles this Saturday on RMC Sophie Venetitay, secretary general of the SNES-FSU union.
According to her, the urgency lies in the “revaluation of the teaching profession” and “how to have more teachers in establishments”. The President of the Republic makes a “diversion” and “risks breaking the national education a little more in the crisis,” she warns.
“Emmanuel Macron risks breaking the national education a little more in the crisis”, judges Sophie Venetay
“The Citizen Convention seemed to me to be the most suitable French consultation tool, because it is a very complex question that will require many consensus between all those who are affected by this vast subject, such as parents, the educational community including extracurricular, local authorities and even tourism professionals,” said Emmanuel Macron.
Minister Élisabeth Borne had already mentioned the subject, in January, in the columns of the Parisian: “Long cuts result in level losses for the most fragile students. The 2025 summer holidays will not change but for 2026, it will depend on the outcome of the discussions,” she said.
The organization entrusted to the EESC
As with the end of life, the Head of State decided to entrust the organization of this citizen convention to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC). “Participatory and social democracy takes on its full meaning by providing the material necessary for better constructed, more applicable, better accepted public policies,” said its president Thierry Beaudet.
-There is a lack of consideration for the reflections carried out by the teaching staff and union organization for several years, regrets Sophie Venetitay, which also recalls that an experiment “Cours Le Matin, Sport in the afternoon”, had already been carried out in several colleges and high schools of France, in 2011-2012.
The guest of the day: Sophie Venetitay – 03/05
“We have already discussed the issue of holidays last year with trade union organizations and parents of students, why Emmanuel Macron and Minister Élisabeth Borne do not take up the discussions that have already taken place?” she wonders. “For years we are not listened to and there, the solution is a citizen convention. Understand that we are perplexed,” continues secretary general of the SNES-FSU union.
It is a “major national diversion exercise rather than treating school emergencies”, denounces Sophie Venetitay, secretary general of the SNES-FSU union
The question of the number of weeks of vacation will also be addressed. “France has a longer vacation than in many countries,” said the head of state in February. “You have to take the right figures, that’s false,” said Sophie Venetitay, who quotes Italy or the countries of northern Europe.
“Prof-bashing”
The union teacher would prefer that solutions are offered for disadvantaged children, so that they can go on vacation. “We could imagine a revival of popular education, to work with local authorities. Holidays is indeed made so that children can leave home,” she said.
This outing by Emmanuel Macron Cache, according to Sophie Venetitay, a new anti-Profen offensive, often called “Prof-bashing”. “It is a great classic. The idea is to point the finger at teachers who have too many vacation.” And yet, “if the profession was also attractive, it would not be so difficult to recruit,” concludes the teacher.
