Appointment of Amélie Oudéa-Castéra as Education Minister Triggers Mixed Reactions from Teachers’ Unions
The announcement of Amélie Oudéa-Castéra's appointment as the Education, Youth, Sports, and Olympic Games Minister has led to a swift response from teachers' unions. Her ministerial role also stretches into the sports domain, picking up the mantle left vacant by Gabriel Attal's shift to the Prime Minister's office.
In the words of Sophie Vénétitay, the general secretary for SNES-FSU, a leading union for high school educators, she expresses great concern and disappointment over how the education department is being handled amidst an unprecedented crisis. The unions caution about the pending Olympic event scheduled to kick off in six and a half months. Sophie further emphasizes that the minister, due to the dual role, may not provide an all-encompassing focus on education-related issues, which is regrettable.
Guislaine David, the general secretary for FSU-SNUipp, the primary teachers' union, echoes the same sentiment, terming the move as a disservice to the education sector. Gauging from the minister's busy schedule coordinating the Olympics, David leans towards the assumption that education issues may be set aside or downplayed.
Catherine Nave-Bekhti, the SGEN-CFDT general secretary, maintains a 'wait and see' approach. However, she signals her concern over the idea of combining the sports and education sectors into one ministerial role. Such a move contrasts the promise of prioritizing education and makes no logical sense. The appointment draws fear regarding how future work will progress amidst significant challenges, as pointed out by Elisabeth Allain-Moreno, the SE-UNSA general secretary. However, she puts emphasis on the fact that Gabriel Attal remains the education minister, believing that the educational system's core decision-making power no longer resides in rue de Grenelle.
