The Minister of National Education, Anne Genetet, announced this Tuesday morning “act 2 of the clash of knowledge”, in middle and high school. Among the new features, the certificate will become compulsory for entry to high school, from the 2027 session. Those who fail will go either to CAP or to prep-secondary classa sort of bridge between middle school and high school. “Prep-secondary” classes are currently being tested in all academies. Last year, 14% of candidates failed the patent.
An anticipated math test
For the general and technological baccalaureate, Première students will take an anticipated maths test from June 2026, as exists today in French. Since the start of the 2023 school year, an hour and a half of common core mathematics has been added for all general and technological first year students. “But until now, we did not measure their level since there was no mathematics test“, recalled the minister, who wants “a real barometer” and “raise the level in mathematics”. In general high school, the test will not be the same for those who specialize in math and others.
This test will be taken at the end of the first class, from June 2026, and will count towards the 2027 baccalaureate. For the moment, neither its coefficient nor its program are known. Students who retained the math specialty in final year will take a second test the following year, in the same way as all other specialty tests.
Renewed need groups
For 6th and 5th grade, the need groups will be renewedwith smaller numbers to facilitate learning in maths and French. But for the 4th and 3rd, no extension of the entire system, as initially planned. They will have one hour per week only as a group. “One hour per week in a need group“, specifies the minister, with reduced numbers and taking into account the different levels of the students, either in maths or in French, alternately.
Concerning the number of teachers needed to be able to supervise these small groups of students in difficulty, Anne Genetet's entourage estimates with franceinfo that around a thousand are needed. 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.
Recruitments from January
Finally, 150 senior education advisors and 600 supervisorsAEDs (education assistants), will be recruited in addition, in the most sensitive colleges, from next January.
