École 42 Nice was placed in receivership on June 26. According to our information, which confirms that of France 3, the commercial court has appointed a judicial administrator to hold the bar of the school.
For weeks now, relations have been strained between its management and the communities that subsidize it, the South Region and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. At the heart of the tensions: “Management difficulties.”
Opened in October 2020, the Nice campus of École 42 welcomes students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 61 avenue Simone-Veil, in the Nice Méridia district, on the Var plain. A free school, with equipment provided but without teachers, where students organize themselves into working groups, supported by an educational team.
The only condition for diving in the “Pool” of admissions: to be at least 18 years old. On the menu: code, lots of code. Computer code to master, educational codes to shake up.
The Region requires guarantees
Since this spring, the towel has been burning between the 42Nice association, which manages the Nice branch, and the Southern Region. On April 22, its general inspectorate commissioned an audit of the school’s management. The community is concerned about the proper use of public funds, after having already paid nearly 2.4 million euros. In this context, there is no question of granting new subsidies without obtaining all the necessary guarantees.
In a joint statement, the South region and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis take note of the placement in receivership of the School 42 Nice. “AToday, suspicions of major alleged management irregularities no longer allow the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis to continue their support for this structure. “
The two communities say to each other “fully mobilized, in close connection with the national “Ecole 42” network, to consider in a new form the continuity of a training activity recognized for its excellence and whose success is now proven, with nearly 400 students trained. “
“Exceptional case in Nice”
Sophie Viger, general manager of the École 42 parent company, confirms these local difficulties. “We encountered an exceptional case in Nice, a campus managed by an independent partner, where a governance problem and malfunctions were identified, requiring the launch of an audit by the Region. Our desire is to find solutions for students, in particular to ensure the continuity of distance learning courses if necessary. They are the most important. The results of the audit are expected in the coming weeks.“
In cessation of payment since June 13, École 42 Nice is placed under judicial observation for a period of six months. Contacted, its director did not respond to our requests.
Know +
The Ecole 42 dedicated to digital professions was created ten years ago by businessman Xavier Niel, boss in particular of Free (and majority shareholder of the Nice-Matin group via its holding company NJJ).
It has around ten branches in France, around fifty around the world.
