Last June, the trade union UNSA-Education published the results of its eighth Barometer of Education Professions in France. To accompany these results, Secretary General Frédéric Marchand made a point of highlighting the concerns and frustrations expressed by the respondents to warn that it is time for the French government to change its education policy.
Last June, the trade union UNSA-Education published the results of its eighth Barometer of Education Professions in France. To accompany these results, Secretary General Frédéric Marchand made a point of highlighting the concerns and frustrations expressed by the respondents to warn that it is time for the French government to change its education policy.
The UNSA Barometer is a recognised indicator that provides an accurate picture of the state of physical and mental health of education professionals, their needs, their relationships with their professional hierarchy and their (dis)agreement with the Ministry’s directives.
This year’s survey was directly impacted by the crisis and the lockdown measures as only 9500 people were able to respond, which represents a third of the usual participants. Their responses, however, highlight the current atmosphere within the education community and also serve as a basis for UNSA-Education’s advocacy to make their demands loud and clear.
The unease within the profession is palpable, as the responses to the questionnaire indicate that suffering at work remains a major problem for educators in France: “people are increasingly expressing that they feel that working conditions are deteriorating. Lack of professional recognition (68%), excessive workload (57%), loss of sense of purpose (46%)”, Frédéric Marchand described.
According to the General Secretary of the union, “colleagues are calling for change. The message is clear”, the education professions deserve more respect from the public authorities. Frédéric Marchand pointed out that, in particular, they need better support in the implementation of the many reforms that have followed in quick succession in recent years, in order to be more efficient in the tasks they are expected to perform.
Government support is also requested in the face of uncertainties related to the current health crisis. Education workers have been at the forefront of ensuring pedagogical continuity following lockdown. They now expect more guidance and clarity from the Ministry in order to best prepare for the resumption of school activities in the coming days.
