“compulsory” mathematics back at the start of the 2023 school year

Turnaround. The Ministry of National Education announced this Sunday the return of “compulsory” mathematics education at the start of the 2023 school year for all high school students in the general stream from the first class, settling one of the most controversial measures of the Blanquer reform. The disappearance of mathematics from the common core of compulsory subjects taught in first and final classes of the general stream had been strongly criticized.

Educational community, researchers, big bosses and politicians were worried about the decline in the scientific pool as well as the strengthening of social and gender inequalities caused by this reform implemented in 2019.

1h30 of mathematics will be made compulsory

An hour and a half of mathematics will be made compulsory for all first general students who have not chosen the mathematics specialty, said the Ministry of National Education in a press release. During the 2022 presidential campaign, the candidate Emmanuel Macron had promised the return of maths in the common core in the event of re-election, before recording this reintroduction from the start of the 2022 school year but only as an option. The announcement, which occurred a dozen weeks before the start of the school year, had been criticized for its haste and a small number of pupils had finally chosen this option during the 2022-23 school year.

“Promote equality between girls and boys”

This measure is part of a strategy led by the Minister of National Education Pap Ndiaye aimed at making 2023 “the year of promotion of mathematics” with two key objectives: “to reconcile all students” with this discipline and “promote equality between girls and boys”. This strategy declines a battery of measures including the establishment of groups with reduced numbers in mathematics in 6th grade or objectives such as that of parity between girls and boys by 2027 in the mathematics, physics-chemistry or mathematics specialties. reputedly the most selective experts.

Although France is renowned for its tradition of excellence in mathematical research with 13 winners of the Fields medal often presented as the equivalent of the “Nobel for maths”, French pupils face increasing difficulties in learning discipline. Thus a quarter of the students do not have the expected level in mathematics at the end of the third class, recalls the ministry in its press release.