At least one high school in each department will offer, on an experimental basis, a second year preparatory class. Before the last 3rd year class council, the teaching team will have to identify the students who can benefit from this system. This concerns young people admitted to general and technological or professional second year who have not obtained their certificate. They will be able, on a voluntary basis, to benefit from hours to consolidate the mastery of the expectations at the end of third year, while anticipating the acquisition of the skills necessary for success in second year. Some of the preparatory hours will also be intended for the discovery of professions and training.
3 Reform of vocational high schools
The reform of the vocational high school is continuing. Its aim is to review the range of training courses offered by the establishment so that they are compatible as much as possible with the needs of businesses. Measures have already been implemented, in particular by paying an allowance for periods of training in a professional environment, the creation of a business office in each vocational high school, the Ambition emploi scheme, which helps students who have obtained a CAP or a professional baccalaureate, who are unemployed or have no solution for continuing their studies, but also those who have not obtained their diploma. In addition, the final year is being reorganized to allow students to better prepare for post-baccalaureate studies.
4 Support in French and mathematics
According to figures from the National Education system, 27% of students arrive in 6th grade with insufficient mastery of French, compared to 32% in mathematics. To address this problem, “needs groups” are planned for the 6th and 5th grade classes in these two disciplines. These groups will allow all students to follow the same program but they will be divided up according to their mastered or workable skills. The groups will be reassessed several times throughout the school year in order to recompose and change the student’s level according to their progress.
5 Empathy lessons
The latest major new development for the new school year, France is following the example of Denmark, which has made empathy classes mandatory for children aged 6 to 16, for one hour per week, since 1993. The concept has been tested in 1,200 French schools and is intended to be generalized to all nursery and primary schools. The aim of these classes is to enhance the child’s ability to integrate and act appropriately in society, while maintaining a state of well-being.
At the same time, the fight against harassment continues with the strengthening of the pHARe program (harassment prevention plan for schools, middle schools and high schools) and the opening of a platform for parents.
The moral and civic education (EMC) program has also been revised. Each year, a theme will be addressed: “respecting others” in CE1; “defending rights and freedoms” in 4th grade or “democratic life: debate, deliberation and decision-making” in final year.
