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American University of ParisAmerican University of Paris

HistoryHistory

• 1960’s and 1970’s1960’s and 1970’s

• Since 1967 it’s been mandatory for Since 1967 it’s been mandatory for those 6-16 years of agethose 6-16 years of age

• Public and privatePublic and private

• Majority of private schools are Majority of private schools are CatholicCatholic

More HistoryMore History

• Regulated by the Ministry of National Regulated by the Ministry of National EducationEducation

• Minister of National Education as of Minister of National Education as of May 2007 is Xavier DarcosMay 2007 is Xavier Darcos

• Anyone ages 3-5 can go to a nursery Anyone ages 3-5 can go to a nursery schoolschool

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Ministry of National Ministry of National EducationEducation• Founded in 1857Founded in 1857

• First educational system at the level First educational system at the level of Ministryof Ministry

• OrganizationOrganization– The Central Organization The Central Organization – Provincial Organization Provincial Organization – Overseas Organization Overseas Organization – Affiliated Institutions Affiliated Institutions

Some NumbersSome Numbers

• ¼ of the population is in the education ¼ of the population is in the education system (15 million)system (15 million)

• 2 million in higher education2 million in higher education

• 100,000 go to schools specializing in 100,000 go to schools specializing in various disabilitiesvarious disabilities

• 200,000 go to agricultural or vocational 200,000 go to agricultural or vocational schoolsschools

• 300,000 that are 16+ have work contracts300,000 that are 16+ have work contracts

French EducationFrench Education

• Primary educationPrimary education– Ages 3-11Ages 3-11

• Secondary educationSecondary education– Ages 11-18Ages 11-18

• Higher educationHigher education– 18+18+

Pre-SchoolPre-School

• Not mandatoryNot mandatory

• Very popularVery popular

• Ages 3 to 5Ages 3 to 5

• Also known as nursery classeAlso known as nursery classe

Primary EducationPrimary Education

• Mandatory at age 6Mandatory at age 6

• 2 yrs old-preschool2 yrs old-preschool

• 3 yrs old-3 yrs old-kindergardenkindergarden

• Learn to write and Learn to write and read the first year read the first year after kindergardenafter kindergarden

Primary Education cont.Primary Education cont.

• Set up similar to our elementary Set up similar to our elementary schoolschool– 1 or 2 teachers for numerous subjects1 or 2 teachers for numerous subjects

• Don’t teach religionDon’t teach religion

• Teach about the Republic insteadTeach about the Republic instead

• March 2004-government banned all March 2004-government banned all conspicuous religious symbols from conspicuous religious symbols from school and other public institutionsschool and other public institutions

More Primary EducationMore Primary Education

• 60,000 primary schools60,000 primary schools

• Split up into three different zones and Split up into three different zones and shifted one or two weeks for vacations shifted one or two weeks for vacations to avoid overcrowding in popular to avoid overcrowding in popular vacation spots (ski resorts and vacation spots (ski resorts and seashore resorts)seashore resorts)

HolidaysHolidays

• All Saints, Christmas, and summer All Saints, Christmas, and summer vacations occur simultaneouslyvacations occur simultaneously

• Winter and Spring breaks are the Winter and Spring breaks are the only breaks that are divided into only breaks that are divided into three zonesthree zones

Major Holidays and BreaksMajor Holidays and Breaks

• All SaintsAll Saints– 1 ½ weeks at the end of October/beginning of November1 ½ weeks at the end of October/beginning of November

• ChristmasChristmas– 2 weeks around Christmas Day and New Years Day2 weeks around Christmas Day and New Years Day

• WinterWinter– 2 weeks in mid-February2 weeks in mid-February

• Spring/EasterSpring/Easter– 2 weeks starting in mid-April2 weeks starting in mid-April

• SummerSummer– 2 months starting in early-July2 months starting in early-July

Secondary EducationSecondary Education

• Collège Collège (high (high school) for the first 4 school) for the first 4 years right after years right after primary schoolprimary school– Ages 11-15Ages 11-15

• Lycée Lycée (high school-(high school-preparing for preparing for college) for the next college) for the next 3 years 3 years – 15-1815-18

BrevetBrevet

• Brevet-first official diplomaBrevet-first official diploma– Not required to enter high schoolNot required to enter high school– Consists of the grades from the final Consists of the grades from the final

year and a final examyear and a final exam•Only French, mathematics, history, and Only French, mathematics, history, and

geographygeography

BaccalaurBaccalauréatéat

• High school diplomaHigh school diploma

• Needed in order to get into a Needed in order to get into a university or any professional workuniversity or any professional work

• Refers to the diploma and the exams Refers to the diploma and the exams that go along with itthat go along with it– Similar to SATs or ACTsSimilar to SATs or ACTs

BaccalaurBaccalauréat Généraléat Général

• Most students get thisMost students get this

• Divided into 3 areas of studyDivided into 3 areas of study

• Can be any 3 areas of studyCan be any 3 areas of study

Secondary Education cont.Secondary Education cont.

• During the final year of collègeDuring the final year of collège, , students students are allowed to pick some of their subjectsare allowed to pick some of their subjects

• Also get to pick what direction they want Also get to pick what direction they want their curriculum to taketheir curriculum to take

• For lycée students can either choose to For lycée students can either choose to go to a general, technical, or vocational go to a general, technical, or vocational schoolsschools

• Prepares students for Prepares students for baccalaurbaccalauréat éat exams exams taken when 18taken when 18

SportsSports

• Paid for by Paid for by parents/studentsparents/students

• Most popular in Most popular in football (soccer)football (soccer)

Repeating Years, Moving up in Repeating Years, Moving up in Class, Changing Courses, etc.Class, Changing Courses, etc.

• Decision of school teachers, Decision of school teachers, administrations, families, and the administrations, families, and the studentsstudents

• Parents can appeal the decisionParents can appeal the decision

• Parents and teachers resolve any Parents and teachers resolve any problemsproblems

Specialist/Adaptive ClassesSpecialist/Adaptive Classes

• Primary and secondary schoolsPrimary and secondary schools

• Try to bring students back to Try to bring students back to mainstream systemmainstream system

• Help students with psychological, Help students with psychological, emotional, or behavior problemsemotional, or behavior problems

• Help students that are slow learnersHelp students that are slow learners

Higher educationHigher education

• Grandes Grandes écolesécoles– More prestigiousMore prestigious– Highly competitive selection systemHighly competitive selection system– Ex. 12,000 candidates for 400 spotsEx. 12,000 candidates for 400 spots

• UniversitiesUniversities

Higher Education Cont.Higher Education Cont.

• In Paris and suburbsIn Paris and suburbs– 13 universities that don’t specialize in any 13 universities that don’t specialize in any

specific areaspecific area– Large number of institutions that do specialize Large number of institutions that do specialize

in specific areasin specific areas

• Universities are named after the big cities Universities are named after the big cities they are located near followed by numbersthey are located near followed by numbers– Paris I to XIIIParis I to XIII

More Higher EducationMore Higher Education

• Also named after famous French Also named after famous French peoplepeople

• Influenced by the European standardsInfluenced by the European standards

• Difficult to change majors without Difficult to change majors without falling behind a semester or a whole falling behind a semester or a whole yearyear

• Complex and rigid systemComplex and rigid system

• Low tuition because they are funded Low tuition because they are funded by the stateby the state

• Grandes écoles are very prestigiousGrandes écoles are very prestigious

• Responsible for many of France’s Responsible for many of France’s scientists and executivesscientists and executives

MiscMisc

• Three trimestersThree trimesters

• If transferring from an English If transferring from an English speaking country, the student gets speaking country, the student gets placed in a grade a year bellow.placed in a grade a year bellow.

• Usually takes 5 trimesters for an Usually takes 5 trimesters for an English speaking student to catch upEnglish speaking student to catch up

Works CitedWorks Cited

Discover France!Discover France! 27 Nov. 2007 27 Nov. 2007 <http://www.discoverfrance.net/Fran<http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/ce/Education/     DF_education.shtml>. Education/     DF_education.shtml>.

"French Education System." "French Education System." WikipediaWikipedia. . 30 30 Nov. 2007 Nov. 2007 <http://www.wikipedia.com>. <http://www.wikipedia.com>.