The Mathematical Society of France calls “to get around the table” to compensate for “the increased decline in girls” choosing this discipline

“It is a good thing that the Minister of Education hears the alert from learned societies and associations of mathematics teachers”reacted on Monday February 7 on franceinfo Mélanie Guenais, research professor at Paris Saclay University and vice-president of the SMF (Mathematical Society of France), while Jean-Michel Blanquer affirmed Sunday that it would be necessary “probably” add mathematics in the common core of the Première and Terminale class, so that “all students” have more “mathematical culture”.

“The overall drop in training is enormous and there is an increased drop in girls in all math courses that challenges us”she lamented. “It is therefore time, before proposing solutions without having assessed the overall impact and their causes, to sit around the table with the actors in the field and the experts in order to be able to discuss in an organized way, to take into account their studies and their analyses, and then make proposals that hold water”she continued, adding that “They have been warning about the risks of the reform implemented in 2019 by Jean-Michel Blanquer for four years”.

Even though he is “too early” for “make a first assessment” of this reform in higher education, it notes at the high school level, “a very significant drop in mathematics training in the Première and Terminale classes”. “It’s almost one in two students who no longer do math in Terminale, compared to 85% before the reform”, said Mélanie Guenais. According to her, “increased program requirements” which are “denser” allow “may be” also to explain “why there is self-censorship of some girls and disadvantaged backgrounds”. “It accentuates this elitist vision of the discipline”she concluded.