French ministers change, but not their policy towards the education system.
May '68 began with a general strike of the universities and schools. At that time the students were already in struggle against the policies of the bourgeoisie, which aimed to make education "profitable' to the economy by adapting it to the needs of the capitalists.
Every year since has seen a new decree pubusned, always along the same lines; every year has seen a new minister of education, as a result of the struggles provoked by the unpopularity of their reforms. This year's new minister, Alice Saunier Seite, has proposed a more direct say for industry in the university browamme man ever perore-wnle ner counterpart responsible for secondary education is pushing through a tougher selection process.
French students have been struggling against these proposals for more than two months now. Since 15 April there has been a general strike in the universities, and the struggle has also been joined by school students and students of the CET technical schools. ment has had to postpone the application of the reform. But they have not abandoned the project. They hope that in time the movement will be isolated and will perish.
In unis iney are nelped by the atti tude of the French Communist and Socialist Parties, whose main preoccupation is the legislative elections of 1977. They therefore do everything in their power to prevent any movement which could harm their 'respectable image.
Both the SNES-SUP (CP-dominated teachers' union) and the UNEPRenouveau (CP-dominated students union) were very careful at the beginning of the strike. In previous years they had excluded themselves from the movement and lost many members because of their sectarian attitude towards the representative body of all the students, the national coordination meetings. So at the beginning they participated in the coordination debates, even though their attempt to give the movement a *CP/SP common programme axis" was not successtur at all.
But now, after the massive show of Because of this struggle the Governstrength of the movement on the May bay demonstration. me oner-kenouveai is actually helping the Government by calling for an end to the strike, thus betraying the remaining 75 per cent of students who are ready to continue the struggle. The SNES-SUP, meanwhile, refuses to call a general strike of teachers in soloariw witt mne sadens, ног me CGT (CP-dominated union federation) the student-worker alliance simply equals the common programme in 1977.
But despite the wishes of the reformists. ue sauegie contues m ue French universities and schools. Its strength lies in its democracy, its deter mination, and its orientation towards the struggies of the working class. Forums and commissions are attended every day, in every college, by workers who do not