Two years to the day after the assassination of Samuel Paty, the Minister of National Education was the guest of the Grand Jury RTL – LCI – Le Figaro.
On October 16, 2020, Samuel Paty, professor of history and geography at the college of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines), was assassinated in the middle of the street by an Islamist terrorist. Two years later to the day, “the trauma remains strong”, declared the Minister of National Education and Youth Pap Ndiaye, guest this Sunday of the Grand Jury RTL – LCI – Le Figaro. “The horrific assassination [de Samuel Paty, NDLR] obliges us. First to the commemoration, it is very important. And then also to reaffirm the importance of secularism, of free expression, of the school as a place which must be rid of external influences, in particular of a political or religious nature.»
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Has the situation improved over the past two years? “There are two pitfalls to avoid: saying that nothing has changed and saying that everything is fine. It’s a long-term job that we carry out against the forces hostile to the Republicunderlined the Minister, who mentioned having reinforced the functional protection of personnel as well as the Values of the Republic teams, and continued the training of teachers on secularism.. “We still have work to do, especially on social networks.a terrain “that we can’t leave to those who want trouble at school”he added.
313 reports in September
Questioned at length on this issue of secularism at school, and on the attention he pays to this subject, Pap Ndiaye has never ceased to insist on his “firmness”. “I do not have a shaky hand on questions of secularism”, he assured. He also recalled his promise to “transparency”, in particular by publishing monthly figures on attacks on secularism in schools. The latest assessment revealed that 313 reports of attacks on secularism had been noted in September.
However, the Minister considered that there was no need to modify the 2004 law on religious symbols in schools, “very clear”and refused to establish “a catalog of clothing arrangements which, moreover, would be foiled the next day”, while the heads of establishments are very demanding for precise directives, in particular on the question of abayas and qamis. “We have to look at situations on a case-by-case basis”he said, recalling the importance of “dialogue” with students and families, as well as the “support” that the Values of the Republic teams can bring to staff.
“Living room wokism”
Beyond the subject of secularism, the minister answered a wide variety of questions, from college reform to teacher compensation, including sex education at school, the recruitment of contract workers or even the school climate. Takeaway: The ministry is conducting a “reflection” around the third trimester of the senior year, referred to as“a little wonky” by Pap Ndiaye, with in particular specialty tests organized from March.
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Finally, Pap Ndiaye judged “ridiculous” them “qualifiers” he hears about him, in particular that of “living room wokism”a term taken up by the senator from Vendée and candidate for the presidency of the Republicans Bruno Retailleau in the Grand Jury RTL – LCI – Le Figaro last week. “Fighting against inequalities and discrimination is to strengthen the Republic, not to weaken it”did he declare.
SEE ALSO – Secularism at school: the uniform “would not solve the question”, says Pap Ndiaye