Will the baccalaureate run smoothly? As Le Figaro reports, the baccalaureate specialty exams begin on Monday, while the social movement against pension reform continues and the strike paralyzes a large part of France. The proper conduct of the examinations is threatened by this protest.
The big day for high school students could therefore be disrupted. This Monday, day of examination of the motions of censure tabled in the National Assembly, the various unions are calling for continued mobilization. Transportation could prevent high school students from composing in good conditions. CGT Education, FO, SUD Education and SNES-FSU also called for continued mobilization "during the baccalaureate": the unions "have filed a strike notice which covers the period of the specialty tests".
If the government refuses to back down, "the unions call on all colleagues to decide on the continuation of the action and to continue the mobilization during the specialty tests, including by the surveillance strike where possible".
However, this strategy is not unanimous among all unions. Asked about BFMTV on Sunday, Philippe Martinez, secretary general of the CGT, judged that the tests should be able to take place "as best as possible", without however calling directly to avoid any mobilization on those days: "It must be possible done in good conditions […]. But when there is such anger, I can wish whatever I want…the anger is there,” he said. The trade unionist also blamed the government for any disturbances, stressing that it is up to him to back down on his project so that the mobilization subsides.
In an interview to appear in Liberation, Laurent Berger, secretary general of the CFDT, meanwhile held a more direct speech: "You must not interfere with the baccalaureate. “For a young person in terminal, the month of March is a total stress […] This period is already very hard for them. If, in addition, they have above their heads a sword of Damocles, no one is helping. The CFDT is clear on this: we do not interfere with the baccalaureate, "he explained.
It remains to be seen whether the message will be heard. For its part, the government wants to be reassuring. If the tests will be held well until Wednesday "for 536,081 candidates" a particular "device" will be put in place, assured the Ministry of National Education on Friday.
Candidates who are late due to the transport strike will have "test time accommodations so that they can benefit from the full scheduled duration of the tests". In addition, "in the event of difficulties, the necessary arrangements will be made to allow candidates access to examination centers in conjunction with the departmental prefectures". Additional supervisors have also been provided if necessary.
Consult our file: Pensions: the big bang
