Echoes of the LFIT School Council (SC) – 02 October 2019

Student Parents Representative: M. Carraz, M. Gay, M. Launey, M. Brancourt

(The full report will be available on the LFIT website.)

Important information from the last School council of the 2018-19 school year, intended to plan the start of the new school year, the teachers’ training projects, the school projects including school trips.

           This was the first SC with the new directing team: New Principal, New Administrative and financial director, new vice principal (who could not attend). We are happy to be working with them.

• In order to honor the memory of Mme Christine Renon, a French school’s Principal who took her own life, a minute of silence was conducted by  M. Wajnberg. 
• There are between 0 and 3 children on waiting-list for the kinder-garden classes. None of them are French Nationals. 
• For school trips (abbreviated SPAN in French), the question was raised about increasing the maximum cost. The reason given was the rise in transportation costs. The parents’ representatives mentioned that this should be considered carefully. The limit was already upped in October 2015 and went from  70 000 yen to 100 000 yen (510 Euros to 850 Euros) for trips abroad. For trips inside Japan it has remained the same : 50 000 yen (450 Euros). In 2006,the maximum cost was set at 50 000 yen for all trips. We would like to reassert the fact that these limits were not set according to the cost of the trips but rather to make is possible for all children to attend. Average salaries in Japan have not have not seen similar increases over the same period.
• After school activities are very popular and there is a very high demand especially for the after-school care which is facing saturation. Solutions are under consideration. The consular advisor, M. Roussel reminded everyone that when after school activities were managed by the parents association, all after school activities were free for families with 100% scholarships. At the moment, these families have a 33% discount.
• “Carte des postes”, meaning number of resident teachers (paid by the French ministry of Education) that the lycee is granted by AEFE ; resident teachers differ from TNR – non resident  teachers – who also have a permanent position in France but are placed on stand-by ( (frozen career, no contribution to retirement) and work on a local contract. At the moment, there are 14 resident teachers -out of 38- in primary school and 16 -out of 43- in secondary school) : the Principal proposed to maintain the current “carte des postes”. A parent representatives mentions that some parents expressed their attachment  to the presence of teachers with a position within Education Nationale. The principal  states that the competence of a teacher can not be reduced to a diploma. Given that 3 resident positions were lost in the last 2 years while the number of students is still rising, staff representatives proposed two creations: one for primary school, one for secondary school. Parents representatives voted in favour of this proposal.
  
• Le FSE (community center) : The principal mentioned that the FSE still exists however maintaining it or not is still being considered. A general assembly will be held to solve this question. “La maison des collegiens et lyceens” will be created to manage after school clubs in middle and high schools. The parents representatives have expressed their desire to be part of the discussions concerning the future of the FSE or of the new structure that is created. 

Q & A

• Many parents were surprised and for some, very negatively so, about the lack of communication concerning the change in Principals. They were disappointed to hear  about it through social media rather than from a formal message from school. 

The principal mentioned that this question was already answered by the Ambassador during the official meeting at which the parents’ representatives were invited, on September 19th, 2019. A parent representatives indicated that this question was asked in order for it to leave a written report about a miscommunication.

• The cafeteria: The steady rise in the number of students is a problem for the organisation of lunch hours for students. Can the management explain the measures that are going to be taken?

According to the principal this is not a structural problem but rather part of the necessary arrangements that need to be made at the beginning of the school year. Time slots for lunch have been created and if the students follow them, there should not be any further problems. If a student is unable to eat at the scheduled time he/she should report to the ‘Vie Scolaire’ to avoid skipping any meal.

• The small parc near our school still does not have a French translation for the rules: 

The sign can be translated but this has to be done tactfully so that the neighbors understand the purpose is to help our children to respect the japanese rules. 

• Are there measures being taken to reduce disturbances (real or felt) from LFIT students to people around school or in the trains?

The priority is to regulate the flow between school and the train station to show our neighborhood that we are aware of their concerns. Measures can be taken on both sides, also to reassure the Japanese population that welcomes us. The LFIT has already received 3 letters of complaints since the beginning of the school year. We also need to explain to parents that they need to teach their children to respect the Japanese rules.

• What will happen to OIB after the new reform? It seems like the Japanese international section might stop? Is it so? As a whole, parents would like to have a clear vision of the options for foreign languages classes from elementary to high school so that they can make an informed choice for their children..

The OIB will stay in place but will also be adapted to the new BAC requirements. The Japanese International Section is possible but the number of students enrolled will determine its opening or not. This year again there were not enough registrations to open it. We are working on making the different language options clearer for parents and students.

• How far are we on the creation of the “maison des collégiens et lycéens” which is supposed to replace the FSE that stopped last year? Has a budget been set for the activities that this new organisation will oversee?

The change in structure is ongoing but the financial side and the part that students will play in the organization of activities (and get credit for it)  has not yet been clarified. This is a cause of concern for the students’ and parents’ representatives. 

• Chromebook – The charter about buying and using chromebook seems somewhat unclear. It mentions “bringing your own material” while the purchase of a chromebook is mandatory. This represents an additional financial burden for some families.

Also, parents are wondering whether this is an actual purchase or if students will be expected to turn in the devices at the need of the 3rd year.

The principal confirms that it is an actual purchase and that the students will keep the Chromebook when they leave the LFIT. The type and model and chosen by the school. The LFIT will set up the devices to limit usage risks. The Principal agrees that the wording is confusing and will be changed asap. An in-depth discussion on the different benefits of using a Chromebook will have to be conducted  (electronic versions of school manuals are not yet generally available ).