Tension is rising at the Lycée des Métiers du Comminges in Gourdan-Polignan. The establishment has several sections: industrial maintenance, electricity, plumbing, auto mechanics, bodywork… And the Rectorate has decided to cut to the quick. The academy intends sabolish the CAP painter-bodybuilder section, and the BTS Public Works as well as the Bac Pro maintenance of industrial equipment would see their workforce drastically reduced, from 24 to 15 students.

40 fewer students and threats to staff

“A real blow” for Franck Blandin, professor of industrial equipment maintenance and spokesperson for the discontent movement. “The reception capacity will decrease by 40 incoming students” with “consequences on the classes of Première and Terminales”, without counting “school life staff” and “a number of people who will see their posts deleted”. Consequence according to the teachers: “the students will have to find places elsewhere, in this case in Toulouse”. This arbitration would be for staff “a purely budgetary decision”; “we are sacrificing rural schools.

Demonstration and call to elected officials

The competent teachers do not let themselves be done, they launched a great mobilization this Thursday, “we informed the President of the Region Carole Delga as well as the deputy Joël Aviragnet, the community of municipalities is also in the loop” indicated Frank Blandin. This decision of the Rectorate is “contemptuous”, it could widen the fracture between the Metropolis and the Comminges according to the teachers”this suggests that rural high schools are disappearing in favor of establishments in large cities such as Toulouse”. A demonstration is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. between Gourdan-Polignan and Montréjeau. Thursday all the staff were in the preparations, making the signs, informing the parents and the population: “we hope they will be with us on Monday.”