In Lille, Lyon or Perpignan, students are mobilizing to denounce the holding of face-to-face exams, in crowded and poorly ventilated amphitheatres, while the lessons are being taught at a distance.
“Our health does not equal a paper diploma”, we could read on a poster hung on the wall of the Sorbonne Paris Nord Villetaneuse University on Monday. Students had organized a blockage there to obtain the postponement of the exams, denouncing the organization of face-to-face exams, in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic and while the lessons are being done remotely. Following a strong mobilization, they obtained the postponement of the exams. But this is not the case for all the faculties in France.
200 in an amphitheater
By announcing the new confinement, Jean Castex had specified that exams and competitions could continue to be held in universities and higher education establishments with “a reinforced protocol”. The rule is “distance” for all courses, except for practical work and “vocational education requiring specialized equipment”.
As early as November, students were expressing their concerns. At Lyon 3, a petition was launched to demand an adaptation of these partials. In their text, the signatories of the petition called for the establishment of “remote examinations at least for minor subjects”.
“We cannot meet like the last time at 200 in an amphitheater. There is no possibility of airing, nor of respecting the distances”, explained Thomas, a student of the university, at the microphone of BFM Lyon.
Face-to-face guarantees fairness
Since, a petition Similar was launched in Lille in favor of “holding terminal examinations at a distance” and has already collected 1300 signatures. “The choice to bring together a few hundred or even thousands of students on the same site seems rather incoherent, even while respecting barrier gestures and social distancing”, we can read on the petition.
In Evry, Perpignan and more recently Sorbonne Paris Nord Villetaneuse, students are mobilizing against the holding of face-to-face exams. In the latter, the blocking resulted in the postponement of examinations.
“What students have trouble understanding is that in face-to-face it’s fair for everyone. From this point of view, the Covid has a good back, to say that we cannot take the exam in person. I believe that the sanitary rules were completely respected “, lamented Christophe Fouqueré, president of the Sorbonne Paris Nord University, to the program Daily.
An opinion shared by Alain Sauviat, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Economics of Limoges, who affirms to our colleagues of France 3: “We don’t know who really fills in the copy and how it goes. Maintaining these partial here at the university is also maintaining the credibility of the diplomas they take.”
No internet or computer problems
Blockages and petitions are not unanimous among students. Asked by France Info, a student in eco-management in Cergy (Val-d’Oise) believes that the presence of students on campus makes it possible to be “in real conditions”.
“We don’t have connection problems, nor the Internet, or the computer. There are less worries of cheating too, we have 100% equal opportunities, ”she argues.
For her part, the Minister of Higher Education Frédérique Vidal reaffirmed at the Figaro that “everything is done to ensure that the exams, when they take place in person, take place in accordance with barrier gestures.”
