Smart Learning Institute

Orleans, France: Due to the inability to carry out part-time work under the corona virus blockade, in order to maintain their livelihoods, some students at French universities can only rely on food donated by the government. For many students, queuing up to receive relief food in this way has become one of their daily routines because they have to cope with the economic pressure caused by the blockade. This is especially true for foreign students, because they cannot easily return to their homes.

In the city of Orleans in central France, students were forced to stay in their dormitories, waiting for milk, coffee, pasta, canned food, and hygiene products. In some cases, they can also get shopping coupons. "Many students have lost jobs that can feed themselves and pay rent," said Alexis Boche, a union member of FSU schools and universities. Most of the students restricted to dormitory are foreigners from Africa and Asia.

Ary Bruant, president of the University of Orleans, said that of the 3,460 students at the school, nearly 1,000 said that they encountered “significant difficulties” in paying rent or purchasing basic necessities . France has now entered its closed sixth week, and the government plans to begin deregulation from May 11.

 (Excerpt from Channel News Asia, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/covid-19-coronavirus-lockdown-students-france-donated-food-12668520, April 23, 2020)