Sarkozy wants a Minister for Youth

A NEW Ministry for Youth would be better able to address the concerns of young people, the president has said.

At a meeting of education professionals today, President Sarkozy said that the new position would focus on the wider problems faced by young people.

According to the head of state it is not education reforms which led to student protests in December but fears for the future.

While some student protests have taken place in 2009, the numbers are down on last year following the announcement that reforms to the lycée were being put on hold.

A new position would be created out of the current Ministry of Sport and Youth (Sport et à la Jeunesse) and also incorporate health and employment areas.

The president told the meeting, which was boycotted by unions, that reforms had not been abandoned.

He repeated the government line that the object of reforms was not to cut jobs but to improve the organisation of schools.

Photo: Medef