General states of the higher education of 1987

The meeting of the General states of the movement studied was decided by the last meeting of national coordination coed, held shortly after the victory of the Mouvement against the project Devaquet on December 11th 1986. These General states were to allow to work out common claims, to maintain the pressure on the ministry and to preserve a connection between the mobilized students, trade unionists or not.

A difficult preparation

Grey matter on the university of tomorrow

An association, Grey matter on the university of tomorrow , gathering UNEF-ID, UNEF-SE, PSA, JEC and of the not syndicated students is charged to coordinate the work of the various local commissions resulting from the movement. It is thus quite naturally with it that returns the preparation of the general states. A first national meeting is held January 16th and 17th in the Sorbonne. The organizers who awaited a thousand of students must be finally satisfied with hardly two hundred participants. Their concerns are reinforced by the remarks of Daniel Cohn-Bendit, one of the guests, who extremely of its experiment affirms that “ when the movement falls down, the political groups are engulfed in the political space which the movement has just opened. ”.

If discuss them on the teaching subjects, the structures of the university and its financing were rich, on the other hand, the organization of the General states strongly divided the participants. It has in particular was necessary to come to a conclusion about a call launched on January 15th (opening day before of the meeting) by the students of Paris-VIIi (Saint-Denis), Strasbourg and Nancy II which invited all the universities to hold, on January 31st in Saint-Denis, of preparatory bases to the general states. The question of the place in particular poses problem. With saying even of Jean-François Kervan, a vice-president non-unionist of association, Saint-Denis is not “ neutral ”. Indeed, this campus is one of the bastions of the university extreme left and UNEF-SE. Consequently, the direction of UNEF-ID and many not syndicated reject this choice. The meeting thus finishes, on this subject, by an open crisis.

Saint-Denis nevertheless

In the absence of true answer during the preceding meeting, the call of the students of Saint-Denis, Strasbourg and Nancy II held place de facto of convocation. It is thus with Saint-Denis, on January 31st, that the students find themselves. But the rows are clearly sown. Moreover, the delegates were often named by general meetings not very important. The direction of the UNEF-ID which intends to benefit from its role in the mobilization of December November, was implied little.

The meeting relates to the organization of the general states but quickly the debate enlise. Twenty hours of meeting, to choose a date, a place and the mode of nomination of the delegates. The choice of the organizing city was a true break-in head. Several campuses are candidates. They have sometimes a file extremely well prepared, like Strasbourg. But it is not on that the choice is played. The influence of the trade unions in the candidate city counts much more, from where the difficulty of the choice. Nanterre seems the candidate of UNEF-ID, Orsay that of UNEF-SE, Toulouse and Strasbourg those of the independent ones. Finally vis-a-vis the blocking of the discussion, the students of Saint-Denis threaten to leave the meeting and obtain, in pressed, that their city is retained. The calendar posed less problem. The general states were pushed back the latest possible i.e. March 27th, 28th and 29th and of local bases March 12th and 13rd were envisaged.

Remain the delicate problem of the organization of the meeting. UNEF-ID under being largely represented, UNEF-SE tries to benefit from the situation. She proposes to indicate an office of sixteen delegates charged to prepare the General states. Such a committee, if he were elected, would undoubtedly be marked by the presence of many militant of UNEF-SE. UNEF-ID and the non-unionists are thus opposed to it. Finally, once again, it is the status quo which carries it. The “committee of connection” is entrusted to those which are at the origin of the meeting, i.e. the students of Saint-Denis, Strasbourg and Nancy II.

But the principal point of obstacle relates to the designation of deputy to the general states. Choice which will be made, will depend the weight on the various trade unions and the independent ones. Two strong ideas dominate. Either the number of delegates is the same one for each university or it is proportional to the number of students. UNEF-SE defends the first proposal, it proposes the figure of twenty-five elected officials per campus. This solution with the advantage of better representing the small universities where this trade union is well established. On the contrary UNEF-ID leans for the method of the proportional one. In this case the large campuses, often of the bastions of UNEF-ID, would have a prevalent place. The debate lasts, various formulas of designations are proposed simpler with ubuesques. Finally, the number of delegates will be proportional to the square root of the number of students. Demography is thus respected, without disadvantaging the small universities too much.

The committee of connection

The committee of connection fills its office, it prepares the general states actively (reservation of the places of discussion, lodging, meal…). It decides convened meeting of the emble of the university March 7th and 8th to take stock.

All seems well to go until the evocation of the financial position. A great national subscription was to make it possible to join together 300.000 F but at the day of the meeting, only 20.000F is in the cases. In continuation, one gives a description of the situation on the ground. All in all, local bases occur well. A strike in Nice remobilise participants, already gone up by the remarks of Robert Pandraud on the death of Malik Oussekine.

But the debate skids at the time a delegate of Nanterre, inserted with UNEF-ID, proposes that the General states make known their supports for the students “in hillock in States or undemocratic practices, in the East as in the West”. The communist students see a provocation there. Finally the amendment is pushed back with a small majority. But the delegates are not at the end of their efforts. The delicate question of the office of the committee of connection is at the origin of the more serious attack of the meeting, much wish to widen it or re-elect it. The sets of apparatuses thus make their returns. After several hours of discussion without result and, to avoid a failure, it is finally the statute quo which carries it, the office remains unchanged.

General states

They open on March 27th, 1987, with Saint-Denis on the campus of the Université of Paris VIII. They must make it possible to maintain the unit of action of the movement studied as during the mobilizations against the project Devaquet. They must also be the occasion to show the maturity of the movement studying, able to make proposals for higher education and not only to be opposed to such or such ministerial project

Organization

The General states have vocation to represent the whole of the students of higher education and not simply the universities. Moreover, in margin of the General states, it is held a gathering International forum of the students who had contacts with coordination and/or which were mobilized in the months preceding the meeting by the General states.

The organization of the General states was a true break-in head for the committee of connection. The first difficulty is that of the financing. But the geographical presence of the event will make it possible to find solutions to fill this lack. Paris 8 Vincennes, famous “of left”, takes part in the organization. In addition to its subsidy of 30.000F, it lent its buildings to make meeting rooms or dormitories. Who more is, the Town of Saint-Denis, directed by the Communists places at the disposal of the students, a capital of 45 m out of 60 m and, various service like the opening of the showers of a stage offers.

In theory, all was envisaged. All, except the heating of the capital, but this month of March 1987, is particularly gray and cold. The night, even under the capital, moisture and the cold (2°C) are seizing. The participants are rolled up in their bags of bed. In addition to its climatic difficulties, the delegates must face assemblies plenary which last until the end of the night, the management report affirms that the students spent “almost 3 days without sleeping”. In spite of these sessions without end, the plenary assembly could not discuss all the points to the day order. Work of five commissions out of twenty and one could not be discussed in plenary assembly.

However, the organizers have reasons to be delighted. Initially, the General states were a success in term of students participation, more than one thousand of delegates. The near total of the French universities sent representatives, except DOM-TOM and the universities of Corsica, Chambéry and the any young person Université of Le Havre. The academics, joined schools of Art schools, INALCO, eight schools of architects, several preparatory classes and universities of which in particular, ENS and Sciences Po.

For facility discussed them on the various aspects of higher education, the organizers envisaged twenty and one commissions, energy of the access to higher education (commission 1) with the question of employment (commission 15) while passing by pedagogy (commission 4), the financing (commission 8), the social security (commission 12). But far from this limiting to the various aspects of organized higher education, the delegates have also board on the unit of action in the movement students (commission 13), the cause of the women (commission 17), the antiracism (commission 18) and even the languages minority (commission 21). In short, all what touches of loan or by far being studied was approached.

Work of the General states

The General states were given for goal to organize the student movement durably. They must as make the demonstration as the studied trade unionism is not satisfied to react to the decisions of the government but, that it can also make proposals.

Unit of the student movement

The unit of the student movement is one of the causes of the meeting of the General states, remains to be seen the direction which one gives to this desire of unit. Philippe Darriulat, president of UNEF-ID, proposes of dimensioned sound, with the delegates to rebuild the “large UNEF” on the model of the single student trade union of the Sixties. But the Movement against the project Devaquet, primarily profited, in term of image, with UNEF-ID. Also the other trade unions PSA, UNEF-SE and the independent ones are wary of the UNEF-ID which would be tempted according to them to want the unit with its only profit. Also the counterpart is not made wait, for UNEF-SE “ Poser the question of the reunification like precondition, it is to pose it in terms of apparatus ”. And Yann Cochin, one of the representatives of Paris 8, independent very implied in the organization of the General states, to increase: “ We did not come here to witness plays of apparatus and so that all and sundry amount on our back. The unit is not issued, it is carried out patiently and concretely in the daily newspaper ”. Officially, the unit is thus pushed back sine die , in the daily newspaper, to save the General states the fights of apparatus. However, the idea of the unit of the student movement, around UNEF-ID in the absence of other participants, makes his way. The students of militant CERES of UNEF-SE, already made known their intention to join UNEF-ID at the time of the next congress of this one. Moreover, in full meeting of the commission a 13 (that devoted to the Analysis and perspective of the movement) delegate member of the Critical Movement Action (MAC), a property owners' syndicate of Seals, announces that MAC is favorable to the “large UNEF” and thus will join UNEF-ID.

This context thus created, of strong tried between student trade unions. Also one quite simply decides to dissolve the Committee of connection which filled its work by organizing the General states. And one decides to find in May to make draw an assessment from the fights coeds and advance of the claims of the General states.

Financing of higher education

Before going further in their university and social matter reflections, the delegates made a point of denouncing the lack of investment of the State in higher education (University and CROUS). They estimate that at least, the Republic should invest the equivalent of 1% of GDP in higher education. That appears essential to them as much for the quality of the formations, that for the quality of the ancillary services, like the libraries. Besides they support the personnel which denounces a reduction in manpower of civil servant and an increase in the precarious personnel: frees-lance, TUC… In short, they estimate that higher education at need for a “public finance, a national personnel civil servant and diplomas”. This financing must allow the development of a university righter.

Proposals for a university righter

The delegates take again the traditional claims of the student trade unions in favor of a university righter. That passes initially by the examinations. They ask for conditions of examination righter for the students: anonymity of the copies, double marking… They also wish that the teachers have a teacher training and that the lesson (and not teachers) are evaluated.

The contents of the formations also passed on the screen by the General states. They point out initially a basic principle: “the studies consist in providing to the student (E) a tool of reflection on the company and also enabling him to have an active influence on the movement of this one”. This being known as, they make also precise proposals having to make it possible to improve rate of success with DEUG. They thus ask more multidisciplinarity and better an orientation. Moreover, to support the open-minded of the students and the knowledge of the languages they ask more bonds with the foreign countries. Point of considering teaching, they reaffirm their attachment with the quality trainings turned towards the knowledge and not towards the only search for professional outlets.

There are all the same one or two formations which, because of their specificities, hold the attention of the delegates. In medicine they propose the installation of a DEUG and a Santé control before the selection towards studies professionnalized in medicine or pharmacy. With regard to the schools of architecture, the delegates claim “a diploma (DPLG) in single and national matter, European equivalence, and preserving its value of License of Exercise”.

Research also occupies a big part of the reflection of the General states. The commission 14 is entirely devoted to him. The General states, protest in particular against the national service which cannot be pushed back beyond certain age by the enquiring students. The General states also ask that the diplomas of third cycle be harmonized better nationally.

Proposals to create a university in rupture with the system in place

But beyond these traditional claims, some deputy want to go further. On several occasions, a University takes shape where the student would be actor of his formation. Where he would be a member of the university community with equality with the others (research professors and IATOS). For that, the delegates on several occasions wish the installation of (AG) General meetings in an academic year gathering all the actors of the system. That should in particular have him at the beginning of first year when AG would enclose a three weeks session devoted to the orientation. Moreover, the pedagogy and the organization of the establishment of study would be discussed in AG in beginning and at the end of the year.

The students have to become the actors of their courses. In this case, the autoevaluation would make its entry at the university as well as the possibility of negotiating with the teachers and the administration a personalized course.

Social security

The General states estimate that the assistance system social in place is not satisfactory. The purses are, according to them, too weak. They thus ask for a revalorization of this help (of 1.400 F maximum with 2.700F). But the delegates noting autonomy, compared to their parents, certain students propose a specific allowance. They propose even an allowance for all the students whom they describe as “présalaire” (on this subject to also see the Charte of Grenoble). For the enquiring students, they claim a social security adapted for all (research grant or allowance of study). Lastly, they ask that the foreign students not be excluded from the assistance system if they need some.

Housing restoration, the General states ask the government to restore the State parity/studying in the tickets of University canteen. They claim also the construction of new University residence in particular in Paris region.

But the reflections of the General states do not stop with CROUS, they also pass by the daily life. The delegates thus ask preferential rates in transport, an easier access to the culture and the sports activities, and best taken into account of the health of the students. In this field, they insist on the role of MNEF. They denounce the mercantile drifts of the mutual insurance company and “requires the budgetary transparency of the MNEF, the participation of tou (you) S cotisant them (E) S for a real and equal representativeness with effective decisional capacity in the Board of directors”.

Fight against discrimination

At the time of the Movement against the project Devaquet, the mobilized students made known their opposition to the selection. This idea was of course taken up by the General states. The delegates note that if the official selection is well given up, there remains all the same a complex phenomenon of social selection.

A better underprivileged orientation of the social categories and a reinforcement of the social securities must make it possible to fight against this phenomenon. They also want that the University is opened with all throughout the life. They thus ask installations for the paid students.

But discrimination, according to the delegates, strikes hard the foreign students and the women. On this first point, the General states denounce an increasingly hard government policy with regard to the foreigners (reform of the code of nationality…). In a general way, they ask that an inscription systematically give right to a residence permit. With regard to the women, their fight was the object, of a particularly rich reflection, commission 17 was devoted to him besides. The latter did not save the studied movement, nor the General states. “It is not enough to raise a badge " macho not merci" , intended for a personal and collective taking out of bond, which exempts or avoids questioning what the imaginary singular reproduces of the practices sexists and wants any nothing to know”. Concretely, the General states adopt the idea to develop the commissions women in the studied movement and to promote some specific claims. In this direction, it is especially the problem of the students parents which holds the attention. The delegates ask for schedules arranged for them, but especially of the university cribs and a specific allowance.

The International forum

In margin of the General states, it is held an International forum, the occasion for students in fight come from ten country this to find and exchange their points of considering. This meeting made it possible to clarify, the reduction in more the share of the countries of the financing of the State in higher education and thus, the increase in the registration fee and, the part increasingly more significant of private at the University. They also proposed the need for harmonizing the formations, in particular within the European framework.

Range of the General states

If the General states did not bring much an innovation in the claims coeds they especially were the occasion to give a progress report on the situation of higher education and the changes hoped by the community coed. The delegates recalled their attachment to the national framework of teaching. The General states protested against in particular social discriminations which strike higher education. They thus asked that the social security be adapted better to the field reality. But the students as showed, as they further saw the University and CROUS, in this leaning on the cause of the women, the culture, racism… The ideas compiled by the General states, will be mainly found in the claims of the student trade unions for the years to come and still largely in those from the current trade unions.

But the General states failed in their company of unification of the student movement. Each trade union set out again with its battalions of militants and the independent ones remained scattered. The unit was to be done with the daily newspaper. In fact, except during some mobilizations, it will not be done. The first serious attempt at trade-union unification will not take place before 2001 and the reunification of UNEF.

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