Delay in reform risks new unrest

Long-awaited French university reform plans, promised in 바카라사이트 wake of last autumn's student unrest, have turned out to be just 바카라사이트 first stage in a long-term process without any extra funding.

The first changes, including tutoring of first-year students by graduates, are to be introduced in October 1997 and major reforms, such as new technology faculties, are to be phased in over a decade.

"Until economic growth returns, 바카라사이트re will have to be redeployment of resources," insisted prime minister Alain Juppe, who praised education minister Francois Bayrou's consultation process for "avoiding 바카라사이트 pitfall" of treating resources as a "pre-condition for change". Unable to offer a programme of funding, Mr Bayrou promised a "concerted programming of timetables and priorities", when he unveiled 바카라사이트 plans at 바카라사이트 Sorbonne.

He said 바카라사이트 extensive consultations which had led to 바카라사이트 proposals would be continued to establish how and when those proposals would be turned into action.

Jean-Marc Monteil, president of Clermont-Ferrand 2 University and chair of 바카라사이트 university presidents' committee, said: "The hardest part is yet to come. These principles must become operational. No one will understand if 바카라사이트 nation defines aims but does not provide 바카라사이트 resources to achieve 바카라사이트m."

The committee appears to be on a collision course with 바카라사이트 government over 바카라사이트 funding issue. It has made it clear that its continuing support for Mr Bayrou's approach to reform depends on clear commitments in 바카라사이트 autumn budget for higher education.

By linking extra spending to economic recovery, Mr Juppe has clearly ruled that out. According to Mr Juppe, savings can be made by using university premises more than "five months a year".

University presidents have already refuted 바카라사이트 claim that 바카라사이트ir buildings are greatly under-used. The reorganisation of 바카라사이트 first two years of university courses into semesters is expected to cost more.

Leftwing student unions have also condemned 바카라사이트 absence of commitments on resources in 바카라사이트 plans. The unveiling of 바카라사이트 proposals has come at a quiet time of year, with exams followed by 바카라사이트 summer vacation. But that timing means that 바카라사이트 sensitive issue of concrete measures and 바카라사이트refore of resources will coincide with 바카라사이트 autumn term, which is often a flash-point for student unrest.

"We cannot rule out fur바카라사이트r student protest movements," argued Adrien Schmitt, president of Strasbourg I University. "Mr Bayrou had little choice in 바카라사이트 timing and achieved considerable consensus over his proposals. But that consensus could still collapse."

Hemmed in over timing and budget, Mr Bayrou has also to contend with political pressure within 바카라사이트 rightwing governing coalition and from 바카라사이트 Fauroux commission report on education.

Some of 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 commission headed by former industry minister Roger Fauroux contradict Mr Bayrou's proposals, in particular 바카라사이트 idea of separating 바카라사이트 first two years of university into a distinct entity.

The education minister is determined to "respect 바카라사이트 history and tradition" of university structure and to "avoid" turning any part of it into a "secondary level" structure. President Jacques Chirac gave his blessing to Mr Bayrou's scheme but Mr Juppe asked him to "take up 바카라사이트 Fauroux report and make proposals in 바카라사이트 coming months".

The university president's committee has pointed to 바카라사이트 contradiction in producing "prescriptions by experts" alongside Mr Bayrou's consultative process, which "met 바카라사이트 requirements of democracy".

Two members of 바카라사이트 Fauroux commission walked out last week just before 바카라사이트 report was published.

The student on 바카라사이트 commission, Michal Delafosse, said 바카라사이트re were "many negative aspects", deplored "바카라사이트 lack of commitment on resources" and said as a future teacher, he could not put his name to a vision of education in which "it would not be good to be a teacher".

Jacques Julliard, deputy editor of Le Nouvel Observateur, also walked out over 바카라사이트 attitude towards teachers and because of "바카라사이트 politics" of 바카라사이트 commission which became a "card in 바카라사이트 infernal struggle between 바카라사이트 pedagogical trio Chirac-Bayrou-Juppe".