The Ministry of National Education announced, Sunday, November 13, the return of compulsory mathematics in high school. Students in the first year of the general stream will have to follow a compulsory education of 1h30 per week from the next school year in September 2023.
1How will this translate for high school students?
For many, it will probably start with a good dose of grimace soup because these compulsory mathematics courses will be integrated into the common core of the first class at the start of the 2023 school year. For those who will not choose the specialty mathematics, it will mean an hour and a half more of lessons in already very busy weeks. No doubt also a headache for the establishments which will have to integrate this parameter into the particularly baroque and tiring timetables for the students since the implementation of the high school reform. “It is important to develop scientific culture in this country”rejoiced Sunday on franceinfo Sophie Vénétitay, secretary general of the Snes-FSU but also regrets the impression of a “perpetual tinkering”.
“The programs keep changing… As if each minister wanted to leave his mark in the history of national education. This makes learning extremely difficult.”
Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSUon franceinfo
Parents’ associations regret, once again, the lack of consultation. “The students at the level of the national council for high school life had rather recommended keeping the optional sidesays Laurent Zameczkowsky, spokesperson for the PEEP parents’ federation. Today the real question they are asking is about the expectations of higher education, and the adequacy that there is between what the students will do in high school and the training they will be able to obtain afterwards. “ The compulsory nature of this math teaching does not concern the final year
2Why has the ministry changed its mind?
The backpedal on mathematics began even before the departure of Jean-Michel Blanquer from the Ministry of National Education. The return of compulsory mathematics was even a campaign promise from Emmanuel Macron. In June 2022, at the end of the school year, he announced that they would be available as an option from this start of the school year. But only 10% of eligible students chose them.
The educational community, higher education, research but also companies are worried about seeing the pool of future scientists and technicians shrink. “We hear a lot about the influence of French mathematics with the Fields medals but we must also be aware behind this excellence there is a fragility that could arise”, explains Christophe Besse, director of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and their interactions. From 200,000 pupils of first S before the reform, we have gone to 130,000 who combine three scientific specialties according to the professional association of mathematics teachers.
In addition, the disappearance of compulsory mathematics in first year harmed gender parity and social diversity. A study published in early October points to a 28% drop in the number of girls in science education since 2019. The choice of options to be made from January in second is too early. They too often rely on decisions based on prejudices and stereotypes.
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Cédric Villani, mathematician, Fields 2010 medalist, deplored this disaffection on franceinfo on Monday November 14: “There is self-censorship of many young women in a context where the canons of society, prejudices die hard. They are getting stronger in the times to come. We need young women in science.”
The Blanquer reform has reduced the number of high school girls in science ➡️ “We need young women in science. One of the measures that I call for is the return of three specialties in the final year”, pleads Cédric villani. pic.twitter.com/2hLISIhZrW
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) November 14, 2022
3Will this return of mathematics in first be enough?
This is much discussed by education stakeholders and a first question arises on the staff of National Education. “Will we have enough math teachers?”, wonders on franceinfo the trade unionist Sophie Vénétitay. Minister Pap Ndiaye estimates that about 400 more will be needed while education is still short of teachers.
Another question, teachers fear that this reintroduction will do too much for students who see their future without mathematics. On the contrary, will this return be sufficient for those who hope that this compulsory course will be enough for them to continue with a more muscular teaching in the final year? Mathematics is very present in many post-baccalaureate courses, particularly in science and technology, but also in management, economics and certain areas of the human sciences.
However, mathematics is vital for the economy, nearly a quarter of French GDP depends on it according to a recent CNRS study. “All communications are made possible by mathematical algorithmsexplains researcher CChristophe Besse. It is also a school of thought which allows any citizen to have their own reflection.” And while the Assises des Mathématiques are being held for the first time from Monday until Wednesday, at the Maison de l’Unesco in Paris, the researchers are calling on the government to put in place a national strategy to rehabilitate mathematics in the society.