A new school rhythm: Minister Tripaya’s personal failure

The Ministry of Education’s announcement on the final selection of new school timetables for each city has just been released, and the education community is already buzzing!

“Angry”, “hasty”, “lack of consultation”… The main concern of the reform of the school timetable in French Polynesia did not have harsh enough words to comment on the consequences of the vote organized a few months ago on this issue.

In an open letter that we reported on Saturday, Edouard Fritch, parliamentary deputy and mayor of Pires, has expressed his feelings about the response he received a few days ago in the semi-cycle. Apparently, the complacent Minister of Education, Ronny Teriipaia, did not expect that he would find himself so alone today defending his methods…

The main primary teaching union, STIP-AEP/UNSA, condemned through its leader Diana Yeng Kow, despite being close to the ruling majority. ‘Haste and lack of anticipation’ Regarding this high-risk reform, she also talked about “Biased voting”, It is believed that teachers’ opinions have not been fully taken into consideration on this issue.

The same story is shared by the Federation of Parents Associations (FAPPEP), whose representative appeared on the TNTV show on Sunday evening. In his opinion, the fact that many parents will not be able to pick up their children on time could end up further widening the social divide in our islands. The problem is the lack of extracurricular activities and, above all, the management of these activities, which the municipalities are not prepared to undertake in any case without financial compensation from the State.

Finally, as to whether the implementation of the new timetable will have a (positive?) impact on road traffic, this is an argument put forward by the Minister and we should not be deceived. Between 6am and 7.30am (school bell time), there are still a lot of people on the roads.

The minister’s copy undoubtedly needs to be reviewed. Does he have the courage to turn back…? Unless the head of government, Moetai Brotherson, forces him to do so because he is worried about the government’s popularity now that the first round of early legislative elections is a week away…