Catholic education in Lot welcomes 3,000 students

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Some 3,000 young people from Lot returned to school in September 2024 in the various Catholic educational establishments throughout the territory. Which represents 10% of the workforce of Lot. In a country where practicing Catholics only represent 4% of the population, the place of Catholic schools, which in France still educate two million children, raises questions. Even sometimes, is a source of tension.

Two million children are educated in Catholic education in France

The controversies at the beginning of the year showed on what crest line these schools are located today which must articulate Christian human study and respect for each person, in an era where the fundamentals of values ​​are sometimes forgotten and seem to be clash with societal developments.

“Some families don’t find us Catholic enough. Others find that we always do too much. Let's try to offer to everyone without ever imposing anything on anyone” says a school group director.

Families themselves have very diverse expectations, note the heads of establishments who are chosen either by the diocese or by the congregation. They are the ones who are responsible for the “specific character” recognized by the Michel Debré law of 1959. They are also the ones who receive the children and their parents during registration.

In France, the education system raises questions such as that of the social divide. Catholic education must undoubtedly resist the pressure of parents worried about the future of their children in a distraught society. Succeeding in school makes no sense if you don't also prepare them to succeed in life.

The workforce is stable in the Lot

All establishments, whether in primary or secondary education, maintained their registrations at the start of the September school year.

Catholic education has eight primary schools in the Lot (Alvignac, Figeac, Gramat, Lalbenque, Limogne, Mayrinhac-Lentour, Puy-l'Évêque and Cahors).

In secondary education, the department has four Catholic colleges: Saint-Étienne in Cahors, Jeanne d'Arc in Figeac, Sainte-Hélène in Gramat and Sainte-Thérèse in Lalbenque.

Interview with the diocesan director of Catholic education

Interview with Nicolas Sénes-Keller, 51, diocesan director of Catholic education in Aveyron and Lot.

Former Brittany regional director of the Fondation Apprentis d'Auteuil, he has been in post since the start of the 2021 school year.

What are your feelings after the start of the 2024 school year in the Lot?

Despite a declining population, the Lot is holding up well. Indeed, for forty years, the workforce has remained stable in the department, even if this year we are slightly increasing: the Lot, land of mission, still welcomes 10% of the departmental workforce. The strongholds of Cahors, Figeac and Gramat and the small rural settlements (like Puy-l'Évêque or Limogne) held up well.

One of your problems must be finding human resources?

The challenge of today and tomorrow is to find the human resource corresponding to the requirements. The ideal is to find a school or college director who is rooted in his territory and who supports the establishment's projects.

In this area, the difficulty of our sectors means that a director can do wonders in one place and not elsewhere. We need to find the right person or the right teacher in the right place.

With 10% of the department's workforce, are we in line with the national average?

This average varies from one department to another. It ranges from 5% of the number of students to 60%.

The national average is 20% (or 2 million young people) of the 11 million students who attend schools, colleges and high schools in our country.

Why do parents choose Catholic education?

Essentially, it is no longer for a search for the Catholic religion. It is a choice of educational and educational projects. Every parent wants specific attention for their child. This is what makes each student grow. Precisely, the student is not simply a number or a schoolbag, he is a person.

Would you say that private education is a victim of its own success?

No. I am thinking of the Lalbenque school group. For several years now, not all registrations have been satisfied. We refuse students. Catholic education tries to live up to the mission expected of it. We have to do what we say and do what we can: here are some ways to ensure that parents are not disappointed and trust us.

What are your projects on the Lot?

Real estate work will take place in Saint Gabriel in Cahors (two schools have been grouped there) where inter-diocesan solidarity has invested €500,000.

We also want to rethink the Saint-Etienne site (middle and high school) in Cahors with a major real estate redevelopment project planned for the 2025-2026 school year. These projects that we carry out correspond to the expectations of parents.

What does Catholic education bring to our country?

Catholic teaching must mark its difference. Giving each parent the possibility of choice, it is one of the pillars of freedom in our country.

Let us also say that by taking charge of the education of two million young people, Catholic education saves the State 8.5 billion euros per year. A private student costs the French a third of what a public student costs.

What is your hope for Catholic teaching?

Parental free choice should be allowed to be possible everywhere.

Catholic education has a future in rural areas. Essentially in primary schools which, tomorrow, will be our strength in the territories. So, before deciding to permanently close a school in a village, let's think twice.

A wish for the coming years?

We don't want to scale back. You have to fit everywhere. We must give ourselves the means to hold on, by giving everywhere the possibility of functioning well. Even in the face of demographics which are declining in the Lot as in all of France.

André DECUP

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