The Lot-et-Garonne school map remains pending after a lack of quorum at the CDEN. Teachers and parents denounce class closures deemed unfair. The fate of rural schools will be decided on April 20.
Against all expectations, no school map for the 2026 school year for the moment. This April 3, the academic management of national education services was to make it public, revealing the openings, but especially the class closures in Lot-et-Garonne.
At the prefecture in Agen, the meeting of the Departmental National Education Committee (CDEN) ended with a quorum not being reached. In other words, the number of voters necessary to validate the card was insufficient. “We called on all CDEN members not to sit, as a sign of protest, and it worked,” summarizes a union representative. Which postpones its negotiation and validation until April 20.
Teachers, parents and children gathered while awaiting the outcome of the session, after a demonstration the same morning.
Starting point of the anger, a first announcement concerning the Joseph-Bara elementary school.
Series of operations throughout the week
“We were told that there would be a class closure, and perhaps a merger between cycles that have no connection, CE2 with CM1, in particular,” exclaims a mother, incredulous. There is no point describing the disparities between children of unequal levels.
Yesterday’s movement echoes a series of other demonstrations that occurred this week, such as the “dead college” operation in Port-Sainte-Marie at the beginning of the week. On March 31, the Delmas-de-Grammont establishment welcomed four students in total, compared to 280 in normal times. Same pattern in Monsempron-Libos on April 1, with parents and teachers united against a plan to close classes at the Jean-Moulin school.
“This situation is unheard of since 2012,” says Christophe Courregelongue, mayor of Virazeil. Some mayors had sent representatives in support of the parent and teacher movement. “These serial closure projects constitute a bloodletting.” An endangerment of the rural environment, likely to accentuate territorial inequalities.
“Those who do not reach, Dasen chafouin”
“Quorum not reached, Dasen is chafouin!†said a union delegate ironically as he left the meeting.
“These measures were taken without consultation, which testifies to deep cynicism and great contempt,” declared a union delegate after the meeting. “The public school is not a budget line, but an investment for the future! The academy inspector will therefore have to present a new project on April 20 at 2 p.m..”
Union organizations (FSU and FNEC-FP-FO), the FCPE (Federation of Parents’ Councils), municipal and departmental elected officials as well as representatives of associations close to the school will be present.
The departmental majority in support
“The school cannot be the adjustment variable,” decides the departmental majority in a press release published yesterday. “On the occasion of the CDEN, the departmental majority of Lot-et-Garonne would like to express its strongest opposition to the plan to close classes in several schools in our department.â€
To date, thirteen class closures have already been announced locally. “Accounting logic alone cannot justify a reduction in the resources devoted to our schools. Classes with controlled numbers do not constitute a problem: on the contrary, they are an opportunity for student success. They allow better support, greater attention paid to children in difficulty, more serene, more effective learning.
The departmental advisors of the majority declare themselves ready to remain mobilized with families and teachers. “The departmental majority solemnly calls on the Academy Inspector and the Minister of National Education to reverse these decisions.”
