School was shut down once again today. I think I've missed like...three weeks of history? And before that we had a break and a three-day weekend so it feels like I never go to that class. It feels like I never go to class period.
I think I have a better idea of why the students are complaining (besides the fact that they're French). One of their campuses in Beziers is being shut down and they also are unable to admit as many students to their Montpellier campus anymore.
Let me explain something: in France, as long as you pass the Bac, the test everyone takes their senior year of high school, you can go to college. After the first year though a huge percentage of French students drop out. You also have to take into account that students in France pay next to nothing, they get subsidized housing and subsidized meals, they can often get additional help with housing through CAF, and I'm pretty sure on top of that they can also get a monthly allowance, but don't quote me on that last one.
So the government is essentially paying for thousands of students that won't even make it past year one. That's a lot of money wasted on former students who really have nothing more to offer the country economically than a high-school graduate.
And we wonder why their economy sucks?
Needless to say, most of the anglophone students are annoyed. Never having class is getting a bit old, and being handed fliers for a cause we quite frankly can't help but laugh at is irritating.
Oh France...
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