France is one of the few countries where schools have mostly remained open during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Workers have also been allowed to commute for professional reasons, though working from home has become the norm.
However, college students have been left out of the loop.
Ever since the first lockdown in March last year, colleges and universities in France have mostly remained shut, leading to significant disruption to student life in the country
"Time has stopped"
Laurence Marion, Director of the Cité Universitaire international student campus in Paris, told RFI that students were hoping their term would start under normal conditions last September.
But that was not to be.
"The pandemic caught up with us, like everywhere in Europe", says Marion. "We had to cancel all welcome meetings and festive events."
In November last year, during France's second lockdown, universities remained shut.
Apart from certain science subjects, all courses were held online.
Students in Paris talk about their experience during the pandemic
"Paris : Coincées en cité universitaire" dans #FouleContinentale sur @franceinter 📻
— Cité internationale (@ciup_fr) February 8, 2021
Découvrez les témoignages de Manuella et Kira, deux résidentes de la @ciup_fr pleines de ressources face à une pandémie qui précarise les jeunes.
Merci @carolinegillet🙂https://t.co/s4kpe5dgZ8
Campus life
A certain fatigue has set in amid students in France, Marion says.
"Student life is something that happens just once in your lifetime.They feel that they are missing out on this special moment in their lives."
Alone in their tiny student rooms, these special moments seem well out of reach, and many cases of depression amid students have been reported all over France.
For first-year students, Marion says, the situation is of particular concern, as most have never been acquainted with 'normal' university conditions.
A few weeks ago the French government announced that some students, including first-year students, would be allowed to return to campus for one day a week.
Student jobs
The economic crisis in the wake of the pandemic has gravely affected France's student population as far as jobs are concerned, Marion told RFI.
"Most of them get by with student jobs, a very dynamic economy in Paris," she says.
But with all cafés, restaurants and tourist attractions shut, the prospects of temporary student jobs are scarce, and many face financial hardship.
Food packs and €1 meals
Helped by the French government, student organisation CROUS, along with the Restos du Coeur charity are helping students in financial distress with free grocery packs and meals for one euro.
Adrien Liénard of the UNEF students' union thinks that while these measures help many students, many others are left wanting other resources.
"Ever since the second lockdown, a lot of students are just alone, and have severe financial problems," Liénard says.
"Some of them cannot even pay for internet access, nor do they have computers."
The UNEF student association helps by providing computers to the most needy students, so that they may continue their courses and not drop out of college.
Student canteens reopened on 8 February with social distancing measures in place
À partir de ce lundi 8 février, les restaurants universitaires des #Crous pourront à nouveau accueillir les étudiants afin qu’ils puissent s'y restaurer ! Cela se fera progressivement et au regard de l’organisation à mettre en place.
— Etudiant.gouv (@etudiantgouv) February 8, 2021
👉Plus d'infos sur : https://t.co/2OYtX5lkV9 pic.twitter.com/W7WKzRxca7
Students in disarray
At the Cité Internationale, a Parisian haven for foreign students, yet other factors are at play.
"Apart from being away from their families, foreign students live in a society where access to health is not well understood, and on top of that, they do not understand French as well as their native language," says the institution's director Laurence Marion.
"Foreign currency exchange rates are also falling, causing scholarships from abroad to significantly diminish in value," Marion says.
Many students, such as those from Lebanon or from India, have been adversely affected, she adds.
Come September
Amid other initiatives, the Cité Internationale offers multilingual psychological assistance for foreign students affected by the pandemic.
Long-term measures, such as a subsidised grocery shop are also in the works.
"We try our best so that students do not drop out of their excellent study programs. We are trying not to let the crisis affect tomorrow's talents."
At present, with the looming threat of Covid-19 variants, the future of France's student population remains uncertain.
"We all hope for a return to normal life in September, at the start of the next university year," Marion says optimistically.
