national education calls for the closure of a Muslim college in Nice
After the Averroès high school in Lille (North), deprived in the fall of its association contract with the State, it is another Muslim educational establishment – but this time outside the contract – which finds itself in the crosshairs of the public authorities . The new Minister of National Education Nicole Belloubet announced on Monday February 26 in the France 2 program “Télématin” her desire to close the Avicenne college in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), “due to an opaque funding problem”.
The 2021 separatism law provides for reinforced control of educational establishments outside of the contract. In particular, they must provide the authorities each year with a table detailing the origin of their resources, specifying the identity and State of origin of each donor as well as any compensation.
“From October 2022, we requested from the Avicenne establishment the supporting documents provided for by law, and despite our reminders the establishment was not able to justify a very large part of the funding received during the years 2021- 2022explains the rector of the Nice academy, Natacha Chicot. This is why, at the minister’s request, I asked the prefect to close the establishment. »
“Never reports of proselytism, radicalization or recruitment”
“It’s not an easy decision”she underlines, refusing to prejudge the reasons which led the Avicenna college not to provide the requested details. “I am not able to say whether it is bad will, incompetence or a desire to hide embezzlement”she insists, also explaining that she did not “never had any reports of proselytism, radicalization or recruitment” about the Muslim college.
Created in 2015, the Avicenne college has around a hundred students divided into four classes from sixth to third. The association which carries it is chaired by Otmane Aissaoui, also president of the Union of Muslims of the Alpes-Maritimes (Umam), linked to the Muslims of France (ex-UOIF). He maintains tense relations with the Horizons mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, who opposed the expansion of the college a few months ago. “due to its hidden financing”he said Monday in a press release. “The seriousness of the facts with which the Avicenna college is accused demonstrates how separatism is at work everywhere. It must be fought tirelessly and vigorously,” he added.
Late Monday afternoon, neither the college nor the Umam had yet reacted to the accusations from the Minister of National Education and the Nice rectorate.