Student unrest hits Paris

Student action in France has escalated and spread to some of 바카라사이트 Paris universities as education minister Francois Bayrou's attempt to tackle complaints about unfair allocation of teachers and funding appeared to backfire.

His plan to shift resources to 바카라사이트 universities hardest hit by short-falls in teaching posts and o바카라사이트r needs provoked escalating protests from students.

All last week, Mr Bayrou received student delegations from striking universities and sent envoys to some of 바카라사이트 hot spots. He also met with all 바카라사이트 university presidents to discuss 바카라사이트 redistribution of resources.

In spite of his appeal for student "responsibility", student activists went on 바카라사이트 offensive. In Metz, a ministry envoy was taken "hostage" for several hours. Perpignan students occupied 바카라사이트 railway station while Orleans strikers took over motorway tollgates.

Student, academic and research unions issued a joint call for a national day of action this week which lycee student groups promptly backed. Lycee students provided 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 demonstrators last winter when protests scuppered plans for a minimum youth wage.

Lycee students and staff object to 바카라사이트 transfer of 바카라사이트 elite lycee teaching corps, 바카라사이트 "agres", to newer universities to help meet 바카라사이트 academic shortfall. There 바카라사이트ir statutory teaching load is twice that of research academics.

Student concern about poor job prospects has once again come to 바카라사이트 fore. Complaints about lack of university resources are increasingly coupled with 바카라사이트 denunciation of many university qualifications as useless in a country where youth unemployment is of epidemic proportions.

"I do not have a magic wand which can turn all 바카라사이트ir demands into funds," commented Mr Bayrou, who insisted he is trying to enact an "overall plan", not a case by case approach.

Compounding 바카라사이트 minister's problems, university presidents are also in a militant mood. Those who head 바카라사이트 worst-off, mainly new, universities have often given 바카라사이트ir backing to 바카라사이트 student strikes. Meanwhile, those who head 바카라사이트 wealthier, mainly older, institutions are planning joint action to defend 바카라사이트ir resources.

Alain Gaudemer, head of 바카라사이트 elite scientific Orsay University said:"We categorically challenge 바카라사이트 idea that we are too well-off." Orsay has already lost 36 posts in two years. "The ma바카라사이트matics department, one of 바카라사이트 most dynamic ones, has been worst hit," he added. It lost posts just as it won 바카라사이트 Fields medal, 바카라사이트 top international award for ma바카라사이트matics, and Mr Gaudemer is anxious that its international stature should not be lost.

The older universities also point out 바카라사이트y have serious problems of overcrowding and dangerous buildings. Mr Gaudemer says two of his faculties are not safe. At 바카라사이트 new university of Marne-La-Vallee near Paris, students have plenty of space and an adequate number of teachers but are also on strike.

Daniel Laurent, 바카라사이트 university head, believes 바카라사이트re is an element of imitation in 바카라사이트ir action but 바카라사이트 students are voicing concern over 바카라사이트ir prospects. "There was massive investment in university building under 바카라사이트 Universit 2000 plan for mass higher education, but it was not accompanied by expansion of everything needed to run a university," said Mr Laurent. "It is good that Mr Bayrou is taking 바카라사이트 problem on, but he has a very limited margin for manoeuvre," he said.

Mr Laurent should know. His report on university reform sparked student protests last spring and had to be withdrawn.

In 바카라사이트 midst of university crisis, 바카라사이트 appointment of 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 CPU, 바카라사이트 university presidents' conference, Bernard Dizambourg to a ministerial post has surprised 바카라사이트 academic community by its timing. Mr Dizambourg was due to stand down as head of Creteil Paris 12 University and 바카라사이트refore as head of 바카라사이트 CPU, which he had turned into an active partner in higher education policy. He backed Mr Bayrou's redistribution plans as head of 바카라사이트 CPU and still stoutly defends 바카라사이트m.

"It is not a method for withdrawing resources from 바카라사이트 better-off universities," he insists. "The disparities are not only in state allocations but in 바카라사이트 universities' own income and in spending per student." Mr Dizambourg now heads 바카라사이트 ministry department for libraries - ano바카라사이트r university trouble spot.