Now recruits are also monitored after IBC

A few months after the initiative of Sciences po in the direction of the ZEP, in 2002, the ESSEC business school launched its operation "A large school, why not me". But if the audience is the same the suburbs students, the logic is drastically different. "It is to contribute to the equal opportunities accompanying these students in their education before IBC", exposes Chantal Dardelet, responsible for the program at the ESSEC business school and the Conference of the grandes écoles. Objective: assist in their studies, advise them in their choice of orientation and, above all, provide them with this cultural background and this network that they both want. All students are not allowed in the program. The criteria to enter are four: high school, motivation, school level ("We detect good students, but are not necessarily excellent," said Chantal Dardelet), finally, the fact that the parents have not followed long studies. These are secondary school teachers who undertake the tracking.

At the ESSEC business school, there are this year 48 student-guardians, working in pairs. Each of these pairs "follows" between 5 and 7 students, three hours per week approximately. Eight schools were selected (agreements have been signed with them). In all, approximately 160 students and 32 college students benefit from this support. From 2005, with the signing of the Charter on the equality of opportunity by the Conference of the grandes écoles, the operation has been extended to other institutions. It receives financial support of the inter-ministerial delegation to the city. In total, "why not me" now has a 40 projects of schools, but universities including Rouen, Evreux, and le Havre. Unlike the device designed by Sciences po, selected students do not only have vocation to join a high school, but may opt for different channels (IUT, including).

A follow-up also tray

On the device itself, it has evolved. "Little by little, we better identify the problems, said Chantal Dardelet." We thus understood that it was necessary to also act on the recruitment and during the undergraduate curriculum, to avoid failures. "Reflections are underway on the organisation of the competition, to ensure that they are not too discriminating. "For example, should probably not too penalizing gaps in English", says the Manager. But not issue back on the principle of selection for the access to schools.

Now, recruits are also monitored after IBC. Monitors their results, it helps get internships, there are funding opportunities. Even if, in fact, the financial issue is probably easiest to solve. Scholarships, loans, jobs,... internship: the solutions are numerous. Not forgetting learning 35 of students follow this process at Essec.

For the time being, the first results seem to show that the formula is fly. On 129 students from the first promotion of "why not me", 100 have joined one of the courses of higher education. "We are not going to solve all the problems of our education system, tempers Chantal Dardelet. But our initiative spread throughout the France. I am rather optimistic. Already, changes appear in the system. The competition for entry to the schools of management, for example, have become free for scholars. This will lead to further progress. We are on the right track.