The Minister of National Education announces several new features for middle and high schools on Tuesday, November 12, according to information from franceinfo. This “Act 2 of the shock of knowledge”, launched by Anne Genetet, comes a year after the first announcements made by Gabriel Attal when he was then Minister of National Education.
“I want to relaunch the educational elevator“, indicates the minister in an interview with AFP, who assures that she wants to raise the level of students by setting up, for example, need groups.”custom made” in 4th and 3rd before the introduction of a compulsory Brevet for the transition to second in 2027. Here's what you need to remember.
Maintaining need groups
Among the announcements, the fact that the need groups in middle school will continue on the same model in 6th and 5th grade next year. The system was put in place at the start of the 2024 school year to take students out of their classes and distribute them according to their skills in maths and French.
On the other hand, there will not be a full expansion for the 4th and 3rd as initially planned. These students will be divided into groups for only one hour per week, alternating, once for French and the following week for math. “The students in greatest difficulty will be in reduced numbers“, specifies the minister.
“Furthermore, I decide to double the number of students who will have access to 'homework done' and successful training courses. This will concern 800,000 4th and 3rd year secondary school students from next year. The objective is to offer each student tailor-made support throughout college.“, indicates Anne Genetet.
The compulsory certificate to progress to high school
Another announcement, this time, concerning the college certificate. From the 2027 session, the exam will become a mandatory requirement for entering high school. This will therefore concern students who are currently in 5th grade. Those who do not obtain the certificate can either go to CAP or join a prep-secondary class. This system, tested since September, is a sort of bridge between the 3rd grade and the second grade. Last year, 14% of candidates failed the patent.
Furthermore, there are some new features concerning this test set at the end of the third year: “From this year, we will distinguish the history-geography grade and the EMC grade (moral and civic education) to restore value to this subject. And as soon as a student has more than 18 out of 20 in the Brevet, we will add the mention “Very good with congratulations from the jury” to promote their success.“, announces the Minister of National Education.
An anticipated math test in first grade
Finally, for the baccalaureate, an anticipated maths test is now created, as exists today for French. This test will be taken at the end of the first class, from June 2026, and will count towards the 2027 baccalaureate.What I want is to have a real barometer and to raise the level in mathematics“, continues Anne Genetet.
For the moment, neither its coefficient nor its program are known. Students who retained the math specialty in final year will therefore take a second test the following year, in the same way as all other specialty tests.
More human resources
Concerning the number of teachers needed to be able to supervise these small groups of students in difficulty, Anne Genetet's entourage estimates that around 1,000 and 1,500 are needed, with part redeployment, part recruitment of new teachers, she clarified, considering that these are entirely reasonable and absorbable proportions in the constrained budgetary context. The additional envelope is however not guaranteed at this stage, recalls the minister's entourage, which refers to the budgetary debate, underway in the National Assembly and the Senate.
Finally, 150 principal education advisors and 600 supervisors, the AEDs (education assistants), will be recruited, in addition, in the most sensitive colleges, from next January. “We cannot progress or learn with complete peace of mind if we feel insecure, both for the teacher and for the students. I will be very clear: I do not accept that a single teacher can be challenged in his teachings or be threatened, whether verbally, morally or physically.“, concludes the minister in an interview with AFP.
