It was his first back-to-school press conference as Minister of National Education. While several measures – in particular the ban on the abaya at school as well as the postponement of the baccalaureate specialty tests – had already been announced, Gabriel Attal clarified, this Monday, August 28, the outlines of certain reforms to come. . The Express takes stock.
Unite against attacks on secularism
Gabriel Attal justified the ban on wearing the abaya in schools by calling on Monday to “unite” against attacks on secularism.
“To unite is to be clear: the abaya has no place in our schools”, declared the minister. He promised to train “in the issues of secularism 300,000 staff per year until 2025” and l all 14,000 management staff “before the end of the year”. “Our school is tested. In recent months, attacks on secularism have increased considerably, with in particular the wearing of religious outfits such as abayas or qamis which have appeared – and sometimes settled – in certain establishments”, argued the minister.
Specialty baccalaureate exams in June
The holding in March of the baccalaureate specialty tests, set up for the first time in 2023, had provoked an avalanche of criticism. Accused of causing absenteeism and demotivation of certain students in the last quarter, the calendar of the “Blanquer” baccalaureate will therefore change.
From 2024, the specialty tests will be organized in June. A decision hailed by the unions. This new calendar does not call into question the part of continuous control of the new formula of the baccalaureate.
A “knowledge shock”
The Minister of National Education Gabriel Attal promised Monday a “shock of knowledge” at school with a strengthening of fundamental knowledge and a limitation to 24 of the number of students in CP and CE1.
“As of this start of the school year, we are putting the package on fundamental knowledge at all levels: in kindergarten, primary, middle and high school”, said Gabriel Attal during his back-to-school press conference. Because the “first priority” for this year is to “raise the level”, he added. For this “we will continue and complete the duplication of classes in priority education, in particular in large section by the start of the 2024 school year” he said.
A cap of 24 students in CP and CE1
In addition “this year, 100% of large section classes, CP and CE1 will be capped at 24 students”, he added, promising: “overloaded classes in these levels, it’s over”. In primary school, because CP is “a crucial year”, every day “two hours will be devoted” to learning and practicing reading, he promised. In CM2 “every week, students will have to produce at least one written text”, because at the end of primary “all students must master reading and writing”, he added.
Gabriel Attal also emphasized the establishment of “new national assessments in CM1”, in addition to those existing in CP, mid-CP and CE1.
It is a question of “objectivizing the difficulties of each student from the start of the school year” to offer “the best possible support” to each child, he added.
A “maternal plan”
The minister also promised a “kindergarten plan” for teachers so that “100% of the 370,000 school teachers” are trained “before the end of the five-year term”. In the same spirit as for CP and CE1 “the school from two years will be amplified in priority education”, assured Gabriel Attal.