student reactions to “inflation compensation”
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Thursday evening, October 21, the payment of a bonus of 100 euros for 38 million French people, in order to preserve purchasing power in the face of rising energy and fuel prices. Will this premium be sufficient to meet the needs of the students?
“Inflationary compensation” was decided to get a “quick and easy” response to rising energy prices. Students, under certain conditions, can also benefit from: scholarship students and fiscally independent students earning less than 2,000 euros.
Today on the Dijon university campus, students were rather skeptical about the scope of the “100 euros check”
A student living outside the Region, who travels by car, argues: “I live in Alsace, going back and forth is expensive. Once 100 euros is not enough, it is not enough. For budget reasons, I have not yet returned home since the start of the school year. . “
It seems that the measure decided by the Executive remains misunderstood by the students. Indeed, the 100 euros are intended to compensate for the recent increase in energy costs, students rather see a study aid to cross this measure, and therefore, are disappointed.
A student deplores “I think just 100 euros for all our studies is not much. If it were per year, that would be good!”
A student observes the weight of housing charges: “I already have the rent, I was asked for a huge bill for energy regulations. I was taken aback.”
Another student appreciates the contribution of the check for 100 euros, especially when it is necessary to combine her studies with a professional activity: “It’s complicated, I have to work alongside my studies. It’s already extremely taxing mentally, it’s very tiring. It’s difficult to make ends meet. It is sure that a help, that never refuse, especially when you are a student. Working during your studies is a bit like putting your studies aside. Having the right to aid allows you to concentrate on the main thing. “
A living student at CROUS (student residence) also deplores the instantaneous effect of the measure. Elsa Berthou believes that she is understood: “Thank you for the wonderful check, in the meantime, it’s not sustainable over time, it’s not a long-term solution, it’s occasional!”
From her perspective, she imagines that more measures should be collective: “Even if it is not given individually, perhaps we should have given to the Crous, so that they could renovate, and live in good conditions. Perhaps also provide more housing for students. Currently, we are more students than the previous year, so places are scarce. “
On the side of student unions, here too the measure is welcomed with freshness. The UNEF (National Union of Students of France) Burgundy deplores the “insufficient” aspect of the measure extended to students.
Clara Privé, president of Unef Bourgogne finds the measure divisive : “this aid is largely insufficient, since it covers only two-thirds of the students. We therefore leave a third of the students aside. After the Covid crisis, and after all that we have lived in recent years with the inflation, all students are now precarious. Unfortunately, there are a third of students who will not benefit from this aid. “
In addition, UNEF points the finger at “the dilapidation of the student housing stock, in the private as in the public”. Clara Privé describes the accommodation as “energy strainers.”
The premium, tax-exempt, said Matignon, will be paid in one go automatically, from the end of December by employers to employees, and between January and for other categories, such as retirees or self-employed, said the Prime Minister.