The neighborhood school currently has 63 students spread over three classes and benefits from 3.5 positions for its operation in French and Basque. An enrollment of 57 students is planned for the next school year, who would still be spread over three classes and three or four levels depending on school times.
“The gross numbers which serve as the basis for national education,” explains Diana Duperou, one of the four representatives of parents of students at the Amotz school, “were recorded in November and can largely evolve favorably before September and after the day open house scheduled for April 25. The elimination of this half-position will mean that each teacher will sometimes find themselves in front of 30 students with classes of three, four and even five levels when a school trip will not involve an entire class.”
A petition launched
The Amotz school is no exception; there are more and more students in difficulty who require specific support. “We do not doubt their skills,” continues the other elected official Elaia Pérès, “but the teachers are not magicians and cannot duplicate themselves: with 4 or 5 levels, they will necessarily have less time to give to each one. Monitoring will be less individualized, not to mention the well-being of students faced with more noise, stress or agitation. National Education only sees figures where we see our children and their future.”
