Lauragais: outcry against the closure of a class south-east of Toulouse
Banners, demonstrations and a petition with more than 300 signatures: parents of students, residents and municipal employees are mobilizing against the closure of a class at the Varennes school.
Faced with the risk of closure of one of the two classes of the Varennes school, the RPI Parents’ Association called a rally in front of the establishment on Saturday January 28 at 10 a.m. Despite the incisive cold, parents, children, AESH and municipal employees, municipal councilor and residents were there, already announcing almost 300 signatures for the petition * resulted the day before. The mayor, Philippe Goux, was also present.
The educational grouping of five municipalities – Cessales, Mauremont, Trébons, Saint-Germier, Varennes – concerns more than 120 children, 4 schools, 2 free daycare centers and bus transport – also free – very popular. School children are thus kept in their places of residence, benefit from the dynamism of an experienced team – teachers, AESH, municipal agents – and good learning and support conditions, particularly for pupils with disabilities.
The installation of new inhabitants in rural areas is thus facilitated, with several plans for new housing being in progress. The announced closure of the CE2-CM1 class in Varennes would lead to a new distribution of children and in all cases, an overrun of current classroom and canteen capacities, poorer quality care as well as impossibility of welcoming new pupils.
The director would in fact find herself isolated and therefore less available and the municipal jobs dedicated to the school would be jeopardized. Finally, the town halls have invested massively in schools and have responded to requests for material equipment from the National Education Department, whose minister, Mr. Pap Ndiaye was recently on a visit to Villenouvelle. They don’t understand this situation.
Parents are considering other actions and will communicate with town halls, EPCIs, the Department, the Region and the State. For the time being, they are installing two signs demanding the cancellation of the closure and announcing an upcoming demonstration in front of the school, Saturday February 4 at 10:30 a.m. For their part, the mayors of the RPI must meet to organize their response to this decision which “threatens the balance and the life of their villages”.