By bbotany
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20/05/2022

A fourth school out of contract has opened its doors in the Cher

Sixteen pupils divided into three classes

Sixteen students are schooled there, divided into three classes: three on average and large sections of kindergarten; five in CP-CE1; eight in grades 2-CM1-CM2. "these children live in Bourges and were mostly educated in families because parents could not find their worth in the city's schools, whether public or private," explains Halima Laamari, President. "these children live in Bourges and receive a family education because their parents could not find their worth in the city's public or private schools," explains Halima Laamari, President. Our will is to make these potentials germinate, adapting as best as possible to the abilities of the child, with an apprenticeship, which can go through different pedagogies (Montessori, Freinet, neurosciences, differentiation...), facilitated by the small numbers offered. "

Authorized and controlled by State agencies

Private school out of contract that received, last year, the green light from the authorities for its opening, Les Seines du Cher, whose director is Delphine Loizeau, also President of Free spirit, rely on a teaching team of five people: three teachers, an Atsem and an education assistant. Their remuneration is not borne by the State, but by the association. "between school and registration fees, all together, the year costs €2,100 per child," says Halima Laamari.

This off-contract status gives the teaching team the opportunity to deviate from the public education programmes and to propose different schedules. "A great deal of freedom is given to schools outside the contract in terms of curriculum, organization, volume of teaching," explains Marina Mouseline, head of the school life division at the direction of the Departmental Services of National Education (DSDEN). On the other hand, the education provided should enable children to acquire the knowledge of the common core of skills. Planned or unannounced educational checks are carried out by our services. "

English and Arabic, languages, the heart of the project

Une quatrième école hors contrat a ouvert ses portes dans le Cher

At Le Cher seeds, from CP to 5th grade, we come to class on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday morning, Thursday and Friday morning. In kindergarten, Wednesday mornings disappear. Foreign languages are at the heart of the project. With two and a half hours of English a week, starting in kindergarten.

"through a motor course during which the trilingual teacher speaks only in English, the younger ones will learn colors, numbers, days," she details. English is the essential international language. While most students have some basic skills, Arabic is also on the curriculum, starting in the first grade, one and a half hours a week. "if tomorrow we have parents who do not want their children to do Arabic, we will adapt to their wishes," the President said.

Spiritual awakening to Islam as an option

An optional, out-of-school education is offered: spiritual awakening to Islam. "one hour a week, children who wish to do so are offered this spiritual awakening. We talk about the universal and human values of Islam, "explains Halima Laamari. We are not a Koranic school, we do not do religious education. Our goal is to link spirituality, behaviour and citizenship. "

Aware of the "risk of confusion that can be made with the presence of a school in the same walls as a mosque", the President refers to "a temporary situation. These premises were an opportunity to open up as quickly as possible. Our desire to grow, by proposing the future of the college, while keeping a small number of staff, is not compatible with this place. "

(*) Saint-Jeanne-de-France in Bourges, Le Chêne Vert in Plaimpied-Givaudins and Notre-Dame-de-l 'Espérance in Trouy. In Cher, 101 students are enrolled in private schools outside of contract. These institutions, which have not signed an agreement with the State, are not obliged to follow the programmes or to respect the hours of public education. On the other hand, they should enable children to acquire the knowledge of the common core of skills.

Benjamin Gardel benjamin.gardel @ centrefrance.com