Mathematics is now one of the specialties chosen by high school students. Faced with the concern of teachers who are noticing a drop in the number of students choosing this subject, Jean-Michel Blanquer suggests reintegrating math into the common core, in Première and Terminale.
Since 2019, the L, ES and S series have been replaced, with the baccalaureate reform, by a common core, and specialty lessons, including mathematics. It is therefore the pupils who decide whether or not to choose this subject, which is no longer compulsory from the Première. As a reminder, you can choose three specialties in Première and two in Terminale, with in particular the option “complementary mathematics”. But the teachers are worried: they notice a decrease in the number of high school students who opt for this scientific subject, particularly among girls.
Should mathematics be reintegrated into the common core?
This Sunday, the Minister of National Education declared on CNews that‘we should “probably” add mathematics to the common core in Première and Terminale so that all students can have “a mathematical culture”. Jean-Michel Blanquer also says he is “open to proposals to improve” this situation, specifying that a specific teaching of two hours per week has been added to the common core of Première and Terminale. The Minister also specifies that, in comparison with the Terminale S program (before the reform of the baccalaureate), the program of a student who has opted for the math option is much more demanding.