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France

Education minister publishes controversial set of school reforms

Despite strong opposition, France’s education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem published a controversial set of school reforms on the country's official statute books on Wednesday.

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem has come under fire for trying to introduce a controversial set of school reforms.
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem has come under fire for trying to introduce a controversial set of school reforms. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
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The minister’s move, which comes just a day after a teacher’s strike across the country, has attracted criticism from the unions and the opposition.

Vallaud-Belkacem denied there was any hurry to publish the official decree, stressing: “All the deadlines were as we had foreseen from the beginning.”

But the publication prompted a furious response from unions.

The SNES described it as a provocation while another union, the SNALC, said: "The minister left the 'door open' only to smash it closed in the face of high school teachers, in an astonishing refusal of social dialogue."

The controversial part of the reforms is related to replacing Latin and Ancient Greek languages classes with more general lessons on ancient civilisation and culture as well as giving more autonomy to schools.

Unions are also angry at plans to scrap the learning of a second modern language for gifted children at the age of 11, replacing it with a modern language for everyone at 12.

And it isn’t just the unions who are up in arms. The right-wing opposition UMP too has voiced its opposition and called for the reforms to be scrapped completely.

Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet: "On one hand Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said she is open to discussion, the next day she publishes (the reform) in the Official Journal."

"For those that were still in doubt, (this shows) the government's word is worthless," she added.

The French education system strives to ensure that all children at high-school level receive exactly the same education.

Despite this attempt at egalitarianism, there are wide differences between schools in poorer areas and those in more prosperous parts of the country.

And according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the French education system is one of the least egalitarian in the world.
 

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