Hello Everyone ! I added a report on the status of education in France and you can find that report
on my Politics/Economics page. Please feel free to add comments about the report , I would greatly appreciate it ! Thank you. To begin, the education system in France is organized and divided into different sections. The system is divided into three main stages. The first one is Primary Education, second is Secondary Education and lastly, Higher Education. Children are required to start school at the age of six. Children can begin earlier if parents would like their children to attend. At the age of two children can attend what they call in France “Pre-Maternelle” which is the same as daycare. At the age three children can enroll in what they call in the country “Maternelle” which are nursery classes in France. When children enroll in primary schools (elementary) they begin to learn reading and writing skills. In primary schools there are usually one teacher or two that teach French, mathematics, science , and humanities. The second stage, Secondary education is broken into two parts. The first is college which is Junior High. The second one is called lycee which is High School. Higher Education in France is the University level and this section is also split into two stages. The three levels of higher education is “Licence Professionnelle” (Bachelors), “Master” (Masters), and Doctorat (Doctorate). Getting your Bachelors or Master in France it is split into semesters. Six semesters for a Bachelors and four semesters for a Masters. (About-France.com 2003-2015) The UN (United Nations) Secretary-Generals Global Initiative on Education has three priorities on Global Education. The three priorities are every child is in school, quality of learning, and global citizenship. (Global Education First Initiative). I will be going over if these three priorities in Education are being met France. As mention before children are required to attend school at the age of 6-16. The percentage of school enrollment in France in primary schools is 108.01 %, in 2011. (Trading Economics 2015) It has decreased a bit from the year 2011. France is doing a decent job keeping children enrolled in primary school but a good chuck of students are not enrolled in primary school due to budget cost or family finical issues. According to UPI, France high school graduation rate is below the rest of Europe. About 72.5 percent, of adults in France graduated from high school which is lower than the rest of Europe percentage which is 74.2 percent. Even though France is below the percentage of all Europe about 11.6 percent of 18-24 year old did not graduate from high school. In 2013, they gave the French a poll that revealed 58 percent of French people were not happy with the education they received. People in France feel as if teachers today are not trained well enough. (UPI 2014.) In France, the status of teachers has been undervalue for the past ten years. The education system is not seen as an investment it is seen as a costly burden. Education was seen only for its financial cost for the national’s budget. The result of that is teachers were not given quality training, low pay, and low status in profession in the society. These major issues effect students because there is a lack of interest to them. The president of France (Hollande) in 2013, mentioned that “Schools must Change”. (World of Education 2012) He said it is going to take “time and resources” and the national education budget will be protected as well as modify to improve the educations status in France. To reform the education system Hollande says they need to prioritize primary education. Children repeating a grade should be kept to a minimum. Grades should be used to determine the level of the child rather than used as punishment. Homework should be done at school rather than at home. This is so students are able to have the help and support when needed. A key goal to this reform the education system is “equal opportunity for all”. (World of Education 2012) Lastly, adding teacher training back on the agenda so teachers are highly qualify and have the resources to teach students so they can be successful. As well as, be able to get and obtain a career. Overall, the status of education in France was not as strong and not seen as a priority. It was burden to their society and finances. The three priorities of Global Education were not highly met. France today is reforming their education system to be equal for all and be the best it can be. All the changes the country is trying to make will hopefully meet the three priorities highly of every child in school, quality of learning, and global citizenship. I do not doubt that France education system will improve and keep the three priorities met. I am really glad that there is a reform in education so every child in France can receive a well deserving education. Figure one below shows the school enrollment in primary schools in France from 1967 to 2011. As you can see from 1967 it was higher and it decreased by 2011 about 9%. 2011 the enrollment percentage is 108.01%. Figure two below shows how many children are not enrolled in primary schools from around 1998 to 2011. As you can see as each year goes by the amount of children not in primary school increases drastically. In 2011 , around 40,088 children were not attending primary school. References French high school graduation rate below rest of Europe. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World- News/2014/02/22/French-high-school-graduation-rate-below-rest-of-Europe/29721393108839/ ..::Worlds of Education::.. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.worldsofeducation.org/en/magazines/articles/122 Education International 7th World Congress - Education International 7th World Congress. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://www.unite4education.org/quality-teachers/france-education-reform-to-stem-student-dropout-rate-and-boost-teacher-training/ Education in France. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://about-france.com/primary-secondary-schools.htm In the 19th century during the French revolution there was a movement of feminism in France. Women petition to the National Assembly for equal rights, but were ignored. This petition as well talk about the Declarations of the Rights of the Man and Citizen. All of the politicians during this time believed in Rousseau's theories. Which stated that women roles in society is to be a spouse and a mother. The women still organized feminist movements and fought for their rights.
The history of gender roles in France is a traditional role for a women was doing tasks like housekeeping, preparing meals, taking care of the children, harvesting crops, and taking care of farm animals. Women were under this Napoleonic code where the men had authority over their wives and families. The Napoleonic Codes were established under Napoleon I in 1804. Under this code women were not granted any individual rights. The role of men in France is the authority figure and being the workers of the family. The men were the domestic workers. They were the breadwinners of the family, they were allowed to vote and had individual rights. For example, being able to have a bank account and vote. Women during this time were not granted to own a bank account, work, or vote. Until the industrial revolution in France changed the status for women in France. This period was a time of new manufacturing. They improved hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing, and iron production processes. This improved water and steam power which was a big deal during this time. Women were able to become factory, domestic, and washerwomen workers. In 1944, women were finally allowed and gain the rights to vote. In the 1960’s women won the right to work without the permission of their husbands and were allowed to open up bank accounts. Women slowly started to gain more rights that the men were granted. As of today, women and men roles are more mutual then back in time. I believe that a lot of the gender roles in the United States and France are mutually similar. It seems that back in the day women did not have rights as they do now. I mean today, women do have rights but, I feel like they still do not have equality in certain things. Like getting paid the same as men do. As a women I really stand up for women rights and I hope one day women are seen as equals in society. Reference Changes in the role of women in French society. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.france.fr/en/institutions-and-values/changes-role-women-french-society.html Gender, Work, & Family in France - Gender Issues. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.tulane.edu/~rouxbee/soci626/france/gender_issues.htm Napoleonic Code approved in France. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/napoleonic-code-approved-in-france Welcome to my France Website, I am excited to read your comments and suggestions. Thank you.
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