Montaigut-sur-Save School Faces Teacher Shortage, Parents Voice Concerns
In Montaigut-sur-Save, a town in the Haute-Garonne department of France, parents are increasingly worried about the prolonged absence of a teacher at the local primary school. For four weeks, the 27 students in the combined CM1-CM2 class (equivalent to U.S. grades 4 and 5) have been without a permanent instructor.
Mounting Frustration Over Unfilled Position
The École du Millénaire, the primary school in question, is at the center of a growing controversy. The extended absence of the teacher has left parents scrambling for solutions and fearing the impact on thier children’s education. The situation is further complex by the lack of clear dialogue regarding a replacement.
Official response and Parental Anxiety
François Codine, the mayor of Montaigut-sur-Save, has taken up the cause on behalf of concerned parents, parent representatives, and the municipality itself. In a letter addressed to the rector of the Académie de Toulouse, Codine expressed the urgency of the situation. This absence is prolonged until June 6 and risks lasting until the end of the year, and no concrete solution is offered to us,
Codine stated, highlighting the uncertainty and lack of resolution.
Impact on school Resources and Quality of Education
The absence is not only affecting the students directly impacted but also straining the resources of the entire school. With the school director reportedly overwhelmed, the mayor is stepping in to support the teaching staff. The current arrangement involves distributing the CM1-CM2 students among other classes, which, according to Codine, is detrimental to the overall educational environment.
The children are joining the classes of other teachers in the school group, deteriorating the quality of teaching for all classes in the school, putting the current teaching team in great difficulty, and risking pushing other teachers to no longer be able to manage this overload.
François Codine, Mayor of Montaigut-sur-save
Codine fears that the students in the affected class are missing crucial learning opportunities as they prepare for the transition to middle school (6e) next year.
Seeking Solutions and Awaiting Action
Local officials are eagerly awaiting a meeting with the rectorate to address the immediate crisis and advocate for a broader solution to the issue of unfilled teacher absences in the district. The hope is to initiate meaningful change, not only for the École du Millénaire but also for other schools facing similar challenges.
