American University of Paris

History 1960’s and 1970’s 1960’s and 1970’s Since 1967 it’s been mandatory for those 6-16 years of age Since 1967 it’s been mandatory for those 6-16 years of age Public and private Public and private Majority of private schools are Catholic Majority of private schools are Catholic

More History Regulated by the Ministry of National Education Regulated by the Ministry of National Education Minister of National Education as of May 2007 is Xavier Darcos Minister of National Education as of May 2007 is Xavier Darcos Anyone ages 3-5 can go to a nursery school Anyone ages 3-5 can go to a nursery school

Ministry of National Education Founded in 1857 Founded in 1857 First educational system at the level of Ministry First educational system at the level of Ministry Organization Organization –The Central Organization –Provincial Organization –Overseas Organization –Affiliated Institutions

Some Numbers ¼ of the population is in the education system (15 million) ¼ of the population is in the education system (15 million) 2 million in higher education 2 million in higher education 100,000 go to schools specializing in various disabilities 100,000 go to schools specializing in various disabilities 200,000 go to agricultural or vocational schools 200,000 go to agricultural or vocational schools 300,000 that are 16+ have work contracts 300,000 that are 16+ have work contracts

French Education Primary education Primary education –Ages 3-11 Secondary education Secondary education –Ages Higher education Higher education –18+

Pre-School Not mandatory Not mandatory Very popular Very popular Ages 3 to 5 Ages 3 to 5 Also known as nursery classe Also known as nursery classe

Primary Education Mandatory at age 6 Mandatory at age 6 2 yrs old-preschool 2 yrs old-preschool 3 yrs old-kindergarden 3 yrs old-kindergarden Learn to write and read the first year after kindergarden Learn to write and read the first year after kindergarden

Primary Education cont. Set up similar to our elementary school Set up similar to our elementary school –1 or 2 teachers for numerous subjects Don’t teach religion Don’t teach religion Teach about the Republic instead Teach about the Republic instead March 2004-government banned all conspicuous religious symbols from school and other public institutions March 2004-government banned all conspicuous religious symbols from school and other public institutions

More Primary Education 60,000 primary schools 60,000 primary schools Split up into three different zones and shifted one or two weeks for vacations to avoid overcrowding in popular vacation spots (ski resorts and seashore resorts) Split up into three different zones and shifted one or two weeks for vacations to avoid overcrowding in popular vacation spots (ski resorts and seashore resorts)

Holidays All Saints, Christmas, and summer vacations occur simultaneously All Saints, Christmas, and summer vacations occur simultaneously Winter and Spring breaks are the only breaks that are divided into three zones Winter and Spring breaks are the only breaks that are divided into three zones

Major Holidays and Breaks All Saints All Saints –1 ½ weeks at the end of October/beginning of November Christmas Christmas –2 weeks around Christmas Day and New Years Day Winter Winter –2 weeks in mid-February Spring/Easter Spring/Easter –2 weeks starting in mid-April Summer Summer –2 months starting in early-July

Secondary Education Collège (high school) for the first 4 years right after primary school Collège (high school) for the first 4 years right after primary school –Ages Lycée (high school- preparing for college) for the next 3 years Lycée (high school- preparing for college) for the next 3 years –15-18

Brevet Brevet-first official diploma Brevet-first official diploma –Not required to enter high school –Consists of the grades from the final year and a final exam Only French, mathematics, history, and geography Only French, mathematics, history, and geography

Baccalauréat High school diploma High school diploma Needed in order to get into a university or any professional work Needed in order to get into a university or any professional work Refers to the diploma and the exams that go along with it Refers to the diploma and the exams that go along with it –Similar to SATs or ACTs

Baccalauréat Général Most students get this Most students get this Divided into 3 areas of study Divided into 3 areas of study Can be any 3 areas of study Can be any 3 areas of study

Secondary Education cont. During the final year of collège, students are allowed to pick some of their subjects During the final year of collège, students are allowed to pick some of their subjects Also get to pick what direction they want their curriculum to take Also get to pick what direction they want their curriculum to take For lycée students can either choose to go to a general, technical, or vocational schools For lycée students can either choose to go to a general, technical, or vocational schools Prepares students for baccalauréat exams taken when 18 Prepares students for baccalauréat exams taken when 18

Sports Paid for by parents/students Paid for by parents/students Most popular in football (soccer) Most popular in football (soccer)

Repeating Years, Moving up in Class, Changing Courses, etc. Decision of school teachers, administrations, families, and the students Decision of school teachers, administrations, families, and the students Parents can appeal the decision Parents can appeal the decision Parents and teachers resolve any problems Parents and teachers resolve any problems

Specialist/Adaptive Classes Primary and secondary schools Primary and secondary schools Try to bring students back to mainstream system Try to bring students back to mainstream system Help students with psychological, emotional, or behavior problems Help students with psychological, emotional, or behavior problems Help students that are slow learners Help students that are slow learners

Higher education Grandes écoles Grandes écoles –More prestigious –Highly competitive selection system –Ex. 12,000 candidates for 400 spots Universities Universities

Higher Education Cont. In Paris and suburbs In Paris and suburbs –13 universities that don’t specialize in any specific area –Large number of institutions that do specialize in specific areas Universities are named after the big cities they are located near followed by numbers Universities are named after the big cities they are located near followed by numbers –Paris I to XIII

More Higher Education Also named after famous French people Also named after famous French people Influenced by the European standards Influenced by the European standards Difficult to change majors without falling behind a semester or a whole year Difficult to change majors without falling behind a semester or a whole year Complex and rigid system Complex and rigid system

Low tuition because they are funded by the state Low tuition because they are funded by the state Grandes écoles are very prestigious Grandes écoles are very prestigious Responsible for many of France’s scientists and executives Responsible for many of France’s scientists and executives

Misc Three trimesters Three trimesters If transferring from an English speaking country, the student gets placed in a grade a year bellow. If transferring from an English speaking country, the student gets placed in a grade a year bellow. Usually takes 5 trimesters for an English speaking student to catch up Usually takes 5 trimesters for an English speaking student to catch up

Works Cited Discover France! 27 Nov "French Education System." Wikipedia. 30 Nov