Faced with the increase in student precariousness, the rectors of French universities signed a forum to request a “study subsidy” regardless of resources to “stop poverty.”
Fourteen university rectors called, on Tuesday in a column published by Le Monde, for the creation of a “study subsidy for all students”, in order to “stop poverty”, facilitate “the development of autonomy” of young people and their access to higher education. .
In a context of high inflation and “economic precariousness” among students, the signatories recommend “an important structural reform of scholarships, with the aim of establishing a study allocation for all students and all students, as is done in other European countries”.
“Neither the scholarships based on social criteria, which benefit some 750,000 students”, nor the “exceptional aid” released at the end of 2022 by the Government in favor of associations to support precarious students “are sufficient to stop student poverty “, observe in this forum the heads of 14 universities, including Montpellier, Aix-Marseille, Strasbourg, Lumière-Lyon-II, Jean-Moulin-Lyon III, Sorbonne Université or Paris I-Panthéon Sorbonne.
Reduce inequalities
An allocation of studies for all “would contribute to reducing socioeconomic inequalities but also the effects of family disintegrations, thus favoring access to higher education and social cohesion,” they say. This would also “facilitate the development of student autonomy”, guarantee them “a decent income” and “constitute true economic and social recognition.”
Inflation: why is the announced price drop still pending?
This assignment could “evolve as a course progresses,” the signatories detail. The financial autonomy of students would also “promote international mobility” and would be part of “a true social project”, based in particular on “access to higher education for the greatest possible number”, they continue.
At the beginning of the school year there was an increase in the amount of scholarships for students (37 euros per month) and a structural reform is expected in the coming months.
According to an IFOP study for the food distribution association Cop1, published last week, almost one in two students (46%) have already eliminated a meal due to inflation.
