Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Amina Aouadi
Published on 2024-02-28 11:20:22
It is on the set of the show “Télématin” on France 2 that the Minister of National Education, Nicole Belloubet, announced her intention to close the private Muslim school Avicenne in Nice. The reason given: opaque financing “contrary to the law” of anti-separatism.
This announcement comes in a particularly tense context around Muslim education in France. Indeed, it comes a few weeks after the cutting of public subsidies to one of France’s best high schools, the Muslim high school Averroes in Lille.
According to Mrs. Belloubet, the Avicenne school, which has four classes from 6th to 9th grade, has not been “very clear about its sources of funding” after several reminders. The minister has therefore asked the rector of the Nice academy to propose to the prefect the closure of the establishment.
In a statement, the Avicenne school management strongly contests these accusations. They protest against the method used by the minister, which consists of “announcing measures in the media without notifying either the school or the parents of the students.”
Invited to the BFM Nice set, Idir Arab, the school’s director, declares that he learned about the imminent closure of his school on social media.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has also spoken out on the situation of the Avicenne school. “The seriousness of the accusations demonstrates how separatism is at work everywhere. It must be fought relentlessly and vigorously,” he says.
The “Avicenne” association of the school is chaired by Otmane Aissaoui, who is also the president of the Union of Muslims of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Moreover, the school claims to be “monitored by an accountant” and to keep its accounts up to date since its opening in 2015. It has also announced its intention to challenge the minister’s decision in court.
While awaiting the outcome of this legal battle, the students and families of the school live in uncertainty. The closure of the establishment next September would mean a significant disruption to their daily lives and their educational journey.
Read the original article(French) on Algerie 360
