Drop in the number of students, class closures… What will change for the start of the 2023 school year in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais
Primary schools, colleges and high schools in our departments will still lose many students for the start of the 2023 school year. A demographic decline stronger than the national average, which will lead to class closures and job cuts, without however modifying the rate current framework.
Downsizing, class closures… A what to expect for the start of the 2023 school year in primary schools, colleges and high schools in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais? The Lille rectorate, in a press conference on Friday January 27, gave an overview of the changes to come.
In the preamble, the rector of the Lille academy, Valérie Cabuil, recalled the context of demographic decline in which this new school year will take place. Next September, 1st degree establishments will lose 7,000 students, against 2,000 students for the second degree. Figures above the national average, which only confirm a trend that has been going on for several years.
Inevitably, this significant drop in the number of students has repercussions on the school map. Closings of classes or schools, sometimes in the form of mergers between establishments, are concerned. The academic inspector of Pas de Calais, Joel Surig, recall “five” schools in this situation, without saying, for the time being, which municipalities will be concerned. In the north, “it’s too early to know”, indicates its counterpart.
However, the latter gives an idea of the form that these rearrangements of classes could take. “We are currently working on mergers between establishments, explains Jean-Yves Bessol. These are not straight closures. Concretely, instead of being on two sites, the school will be on a single site.
In rural areas, no establishment will be removed from the school map without the agreement of the mayor of the municipality concerned, recalls the rectorate.
1st degree:
2nd degree:
Fewer students also means fewer teachers. A reduction of 310 full-time equivalents (FTE) is planned within the academy, including 150 for the 1st degree and 160 for the 2nd degree. An FTE typically corresponding to 35 hours of work per week. “That does not mean that we are going to close a position, specifies the rectorate. It’s a number of hours [en moins] which can be distributed.”
This reduction in the teaching staff will have no impact on the quality of education, assures the rectorate. In fact, the student-staff ratio per pupil remains identical to that of last year. While there were 5.54 teachers for 100 students in 2017, they are currently 6.14 at the start of the 2022 school year and will be 6.23 (compared to 5.98 nationally) at the start of the 2023 school year.
Regarding replacement teachers within the departmental brigades, no increase in staff is scheduled. Despite everything, the rectorate claims to work “on efficiency” the use of this pool of teachers, with the help of a new tool developed at national education level.
In parallel with the reduction in staff, the rectorate announces the creation of several positions for the second degree. With five FTEs for the Lille Métropole European School and two FTEs for the nursing assistant school, IFRAAS
Additional resources will also be allocated to students with disabilities. “Inclusive excellence is the foundation of the 2022-2025 academic project”, he assures. Fourteen Ulis referents (localized units for inclusive education) as well as that 3 UPE2A (educational unit for incoming allophone students) will be hired in colleges and high schools in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais. Two disability referents will also be recruited.
The start of the 2023 school year will inaugurate a new system for 6th graders, with the establishment of an hour of compulsory support or deepening in mathematics or French. One hour compensated in the timetable of the pupils by a withdrawal in technological education.
Who will be responsible for this support teaching? If the answer is not yet decided, and it remains at the discretion of the heads of establishments, the teachers of the schools should be in charge of it. In the form of volunteering within the framework of working hours. “How not to be voluntary to advance the success and well-being of our 6th graders”, argument Valérie Cabuild.
Furthermore, the “homework done” scheme – Accompanied study time to help middle school students carry out their lessons – will be made compulsory for all 6th graders from the start of the next school year.
Regarding the training map in our academy, the rectorate announces the opening or extension of reception capacity for 14 of them, in promising sectors, such as the hotel industry, personal services or road transport. At the same time, 13 closures or reductions in reception capacity are scheduled, due to a lack of attractiveness for several years.