In December 2023, Gabriel Attal, then Minister of Education, unveiled his plan to deliver from the requirement
at school, planning in particular to set up level groups in French and maths in middle school or a maths test in first grade for the baccalaureate.
To vote, use the window below or click on this link.
Almost a year later, Anne Genetet announced what she presented as act 2
of shock of knowledge
».
The minister notably indicated that the controversial system of level groups – since renamed needs groups -, put in place this year in 6th and 5th and which was initially to be extended next year to 4th and 3rd, would be partially extended, with one hour per week, either in math or French
in these classes.
In a constrained budgetary context – the finance bill providing for the elimination of 4,000 positions in National Education – this measure will require the creation a maximum of 1,500 positions, with a redeployment part, a recruitment part
new teachers, she said.
It will be accompanied by the strengthening of other support systems, homework done
(to do homework in college) and success courses
(for students in difficulty), for which the minister promises twice as many resources
.
Concerning the certificate, the distribution between continuous assessment and examination will be modified from next school year, so that the final test weighs 60% of the final grade compared to 50% today
a measure initially envisaged for this year.
And from the June 2027 session, the certificate will be made compulsory to enter second grade, as desired in act 1
but initially for the 2025 session.
The first year baccalaureate mathematics test will be implemented from June 2026
on the same model as the French test, as planned.
“Historical regression”
Announcements received with dismay and even anger by the unions, who had already strongly contested those of Gabriel Attal.
It is a form of rooting the shock of knowledge in the educational landscape
reacted Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSU, the main middle and high school union. It is not a good signal that the minister is pursuing a contested policy
.
In 4th and 3rd grade, we have a kind of recycling of the measurement of groups. We have the impression that there had to be the shock label of knowledge at all costs
she adds, regretting a decision politics, even politician
.
These groups cause a lot of problems
adds Jean-Rémi Girard of Snalc (middle and high schools). We fear finding ourselves in a complicated new implementation, even though we have not at all taken stock of what is happening in 6th and 5th grade
.
When there is an act 1 that does not work, we avoid doing an act 2
judged for her part Elisabeth Allain-Moreno, general secretary of SE Unsa, expressing her anger
.
The few things that have changed are essentially due to resources that are not there.
she adds. The announcements absolutely do not show a questioning
.
The unions also deplore the announcement of a compulsory certificate for entering second grade in 2027, a measure to which they oppose and which the previous Minister of Education Nicole Belloubet did not want to put in place.
For the first time in the history of the French education system, giving the certificate such a blocking role for entry to high school does not seem to us to be a good policy.
castigates Catherine Nave-Bekhti, general secretary of Sgen-CFDT.
It is an unacceptable historical regression
adds Eric Nicolet, general secretary of SUI-FSU, union of national education inspectors.
For him, this is a measure of banishment of students mainly from the poorest families in our country, who will now be expelled from the school system at the age of 16
.
