Many students in professional high schools are frustrated by the delayed payment of the new internship allowances announced by President Emmanuel Macron in May 2023. These allowances were meant to compensate over 620,000 students in vocational training programs with amounts ranging from 50 to 100 euros per week. Taliann, a student in industrial maintenance, has been waiting for his 800 euros since January, but has not received anything yet. The delay is attributed to a “technical problem” according to the Ministry of National Education, which has allocated 400 million euros in the 2024 budget for these allowances.
Despite assurances from the Ministry that payments have now been “unlocked” and that around 200,000 payments have been made by April 26, many students have yet to receive anything. The Ministry aims to make 100,000 payments per week, but the delays have caused frustration among students, with some even organizing strikes to protest. Social media platforms like TikTok have been buzzing with videos and discussions about the issue, further fueling the impatience and raising awareness among students from different regions.
One student, Saliou, who completed his first internship period in February, is still waiting for his 300 euros. He had to motivate himself to attend every day and follow the schedule, as absences are deducted from the allowance. The lack of communication and transparency from authorities has left him feeling confused and disillusioned. The uncertainty surrounding the payment dates and the reasons for the delays have added to the frustration of students who were promised compensation for their hard work during their internship periods.
The delays in payment have had a significant impact on students in professional high schools, where most students have yet to receive their allowances. The situation has also caught the attention of younger students in neighboring schools, highlighting the widespread concern and dissatisfaction among the student community. With no clear timeline or explanation provided by the authorities, students like Taliann and Saliou feel let down and overlooked, as they were promised compensation for their efforts but have not seen any results.
As the Ministry works to speed up the payment process and clear the backlog of pending allowances, students remain hopeful but wary of further delays. The frustration and impatience continue to grow among students who are struggling financially and were counting on these allowances to support themselves. The lack of transparency and communication from the authorities has only added to the uncertainty and confusion surrounding the situation, leaving many students feeling neglected and disillusioned with the system. Until all students receive their allowances and the payment process becomes more efficient, the issue will remain a hot topic of discussion and discontent among the student community in vocational training programs across the country.
