Toulouse: the descent into hell of the Goethe Institut
In July, teachers and students of the German cultural center learned of the sudden cessation of classes and exams. Now the threat of closure hangs over the Goethe Institut.
“Even without hope, the struggle is still a hope”, wrote Romain Rolland in his book L’âme enchantée. The sentence finds meaning among the teachers and students of the Goethe Institut, who do not give up after learning that classes and exams will not continue at the start of the school year. They will now be online. The news did not cancel the open house, which took place on September 10 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Quite the contrary. Dozens of people were affected this Saturday in front of the German cultural center, rue Clémence Isaure.
They alerted to the situation with placards and banners, on request one could read “Finished German lessons at the Goethe Institute in Toulouse… Warum? (why, in German)”. A message that testifies to the great incomprehension of the staff, who did not understand the reasons for this “brutal” price decision by the management of the Goethe Institut, based in Munich.
The building could be sold
“The German government has reduced cultural subsidies after having inflated those of the army by 100 billion euros. Inevitably, at the end of the day, it is we who toast, ”believes to know Xavier Labourdique, technician of the Goethe Institut in Toulouse, also in the hot seat.
Eight teachers have already been dismissed. And the students feel “abandoned”. They formed a collective and launched a petition on the online platform change.org, which has already registered more than 2,500 signatures. The staff also alerted the town hall of Toulouse, the departmental council, the region and even the president by mail.
On the whole territory, only Toulouse is affected by the cessation of German lessons. “However, we were on a good show. Of all the Goethe Instituts in France, we are the least deficient. It’s an unworthy choice, ”supports Xavier Labourdique.
From now on, the German cultural center, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary, operates in minimum service. Only the cultural program, amputated of a good part of its budget, is maintained. Film screenings and evening meetings between Germans and French are organized.
Internally, a more serious rumor is spreading. The German cultural center could well close and the building should be sold. A letter from headquarters, sent to the French management of the Goethe Institut, to which no Toulouse employee could have access, confirmed the hypothesis…