Miss Kolka

...of the old educational system in France.

I have been watching a show on France 3 (Oh, I do watch something else than CNN? What a surprise!) on the French university and how it is crumbling in comparison to other European institutions. A young student leader goes straight to the point: In France, young people do not exist, they are not recognised in the society (they can not receive unemployment benefits if they are under 25 for example) and only 26% of French youngsters believes they can chose their own future. Only 26 % thinks the future is bright. And they haven't even experienced the workplace yet! In comparison - in Denmark 60% believes in a bright future. The numbers say it all.

All this when high school students have been marching in the streets in support of their teachers three weeks in a row now. The government wants to reform the system - And get rid of too many teachers in schools. However, every time a French government has tried to reform this mess, they've had to back down against a big crowd of angry youth. What can be done? What solution is there? Is this really wise when we are just about to "celebrate" the 40th anniversary of May'68?

If they think like the head of La Sorbonne that does not believe in joint management - that only directors are fit to take decisions then nothing will change. If you don't give responsibility to people when they're old enough to have a family and higher education WHEN will you do it? A one way discussion will certainly never get anywhere. But hey, isn't it the Sarkozy way?