The start of the school year has just passed when strong tensions persist and increase. In a context of terrible inflation which further weakens the most precarious, often including students, the French government has announced its intention to review the scholarship system, suggesting the worst or insufficient measures. This is why fourteen university presidents jointly signed an article published on September 19, 2023 in The world to claim a “ study allowance » for all students.
University presidents are calling for a “study allowance” for all students
“We university rectors are asking for a major structural reform of scholarships with the aim of establishing a study allowance for all students, similar to what is practiced in other European countries. »
Tribune “We university rectors ask for the establishment of a study allowance for all students”, published in Le Monde on 19 September 2023.
This coalition of university presidents lists several alarming data from the Observatory of Student Life (OVE) on growing student precariousness in France:
“26% of students interviewed say they live precariously and 56% say they experience economic difficulties to the point of reducing food, while 38% struggle to pay rent. […] 27.1% of students live below the poverty line (corresponding to 60% of the average standard of living of students, i.e. 454 euros). »
A subsidy against “the financial stress that often affects their success and mental health”
These university rectors affirm it: neither the scholarships based on social criteria, nor the exceptional aid released at the end of 2022 by the government are enough to curb this student precariousness. And even less to allow equal access to higher education. That’s why this coalition calls for “ the creation of a study allowance for everyone » which would make it possible to reduce socioeconomic inequalities. This would help relieve students from “ financial stress which often impacts their success and mental health “.
This type of universal education income already exists in other countries such as Denmark, the article mentions: each student who leaves home receives a scholarship of around 800 euros per month, stopped if he falls behind in the course. This is an example that France could take. In addition to encouraging the pursuit of higher education, this type of scholarship could also foster community involvement and international academic exchanges, university presidents say.
Students struggle to “feed themselves, go to the doctor, have minimal daily hygiene”
Christine Neau-Leduc, law professor who chairs the University of Paris I-Panthéon-Sorbonne, said this to the microphones FranceInter September 20, 2023 the growing difficulties faced by students:
“These are everyday human realities. We talk about these numbers, but among the incredible indicators are the emergency aid we distribute to our students. In previous years the maximum amount per student was 400, 500, even 600 euros. This year, however, they are €1000, €1200, €1400. This aid may also concern students with scholarships. This is aid that depends on the universities, it is the only lever that the universities have to support, in addition to the aid from the CROUS and the APL. [Ces demandes d’aides d’urgence] explode in number and quantity. It is a daily reality: we see the difficulty our students have in eating, in going to the doctor, in having minimal daily hygiene. »
“Emerging from precariousness is not a minimum wage for assistance”
Another signatory, Michel Deneken, president of the University of Strasbourg, also supported this study allowance for all with France Info:
“We complain that young people no longer have motivation, but if we want to invest in them we have to help them. We will not make them assisted. They will be students responsible for a budget that they will learn to manage and will more quickly become economic, professional and cultural actors. […] Getting out of precariousness is not a minimum wage for assistance. This is a study assignment contract that will evolve over the course of the course. Economists tell us it’s a win-win. »
Let’s hope the government feels the same way.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
