Hauts-de-France high schools priority repair list, Digi Mart USA News (Hauts-de-France, France): Nineteen high schools in the Hauts-de-France region are among the 200 establishments selected by the French ministry of education for priority repair work. The breakdown is 7 in the Nord department, 6 in Pas-de-Calais, 4 in Oise, 1 in Somme and 1 in Aisne.
The schools include Paul-Duez in Cambrai, Auguste-Angellier and Guy-Debeyre in Dunkirk, Pierre-Forest in Maubeuge, Louis-Pasteur in Somain, Emile-Zola in Wattrelos and the lycée de l’Escaut in Valenciennes. Others on the list are Salvador-Allende in Béthune, Fernand-Darchicourt in Hénin-Beaumont, Condorcet in Lens, des Deux-Caps in Marquise, Jean-Charles-Cazin in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Jan-Lavezzari in Berck.
In Oise, the schools are Jean-Rostand in Chantilly, Cassini in Clermont, Mireille-Grenet in Compiègne and Jean-Calvin in Noyon. According to the report, the government’s list is based on reports submitted by students themselves, and because students have been protesting in the streets to demand repairs, they have gained a certain influence over how the list was drawn up.
The Greens group in the regional council criticized the lack of investment by the regional executive in a statement dated November 4. The regional executive, headed by Xavier Bertrand, responded on November 3, with vice president for education and high schools Laurent Rigaud challenging the ministry’s method.
According to the report, the regional government has spent 55 million euros over eight years, since 2018, on the 19 schools, which works out to about 360,000 euros per school per year. Rigaud accused the state of a “diversion operation” meant to evade its responsibilities.
Demands from students have been relayed by unions.
