2023-10-03 13:46:00
The education code might not be clearer: it is “strictly prohibited to carry out political propaganda in an educational establishment.” It is therefore not permitted to “bring leaflets or a brochure from a political party into a school, nor to distribute objects in the name of a party.”
And yet, on July 6 in Colfontaine, as part of the CEB awards ceremony, the mayor Lucien D’Antonio (PS) and the first alderman, in charge of education, Francis Collette (PS), presented awards to students in their own name. These prizes “of the mayor” and “of the first alderman” would have been financed by them but are in opposition to the law.
News from Colfontaine
“These awards highlight local political figures”
The subject also arrived on the table of the education committee this Tuesday, thanks to the deputy François Desquesnes (Les Engagés), who relayed the concern of Lionel Pistone (C.Plus), municipal councilor of the opposition in Colfontaine. “These prizes were nominative and highlighted local political figures, namely the mayor and alderman. This situation seems unacceptable to me,” he pleaded with the Minister of Education, Caroline Désir (PS).
To date, the latter’s services confirmed that the commission had not been notified of this case of propaganda in the Colfontaine schools. “But since you informed me, I will refer the matter to the commission and will keep you informed of the results of its analysis,” she promised. The minister also recalled that any citizen might alert the commission, which would then be responsible for investigating the case.
“If the situation is recognized as problematic, a formal notice is sent and in the event of a recurrence, the organizing authority (PO) is exposed to a withdrawal of 5% of its subsidies.” For François Desquenes, things are clear: political propaganda has no place in schools, “even if only through prize giving.”
The minister once more announced her intention to table provisions in parliament aimed at prohibiting the granting of a Manolo subsidy (allocated to establishments to enable the purchase of textbooks, digital resources and educational tools) in the event of political propaganda while François Desquesnes has undertaken to follow the progress of the file with the minister within a few weeks.
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