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Education Profiles		France
Country Facts Education Overview Elementary Education Lower Secondary Education Upper Secondary Education Higher Education Grade-by-Grade Comparisons Other Resources		EDUCATION OVERVIEW Administration and Finance Size Structure Private and Public Education Academic Year Teacher Education Administration and Finance: The French educational system has traditionally been highly centralised. The State has overall responsibility for administration and governance of educational policy and is the main source of funding at all levels. The Ministry of Education establishes the teaching guidelines, creates the curricula and administers staff recruitment. The Ministry has approximately 30 external administrative departments, known as *académies, which are responsible for the administration of educational policies in assigned geographical regions. Size:* At present, there are approximately 18,500 schools at the pre-elementary and 41,000 at the elementary levels. There are approximately 4,810 public and 1,846 institutions at the *collège* (lower secondary) level. There are around 1,114 public and 1,189 private institutions at the *lycée* (upper secondary) level. There are 86 universities in France. Total enrolment for all levels is currently 14, 435, 800. Approximately 7, 608, 349 of these students are young people of compulsory school age (between 6-16 years of age). Structure: Pre-elementary education, known as *école* *maternelle* (nursery school), is non-compulsory and available for children between the ages of 2 to 6. *École élémentaire* (elementary education) is compulsory for children between 6 and 11 years of age. This level is comprised of the basic learning cycle and the consolidation cycle. The secondary level is divided into two stages that last for a total of seven years. *Collèges* (lower secondary) schools offer a four-year program that students enter at age eleven. Students then proceed to the *lycée* (upper secondary level). At the higher education level, there are two main types of institutions: *Grandes Écoles, which mainly focus on professional training and the traditional universities. Private and Public Education:* The majority of *école maternelles* (pre-elementary institutions) are public. Approximately 17% of all students attend private schools, many of which maintain funding subsidy agreements with the State, thereby minimizing tuition fees. Consequently private schools are mandated to follow the public education curriculum, programmes and schedules. Academic Year: The academic year at both the elementary and secondary levels is comprised of 180 days from September to June. Schools are open for 36 weeks of classes, at six days a week, with no classes given on Wednesday or Saturday afternoons. At the elementary level, 846 is the minimum number of class hours required, with 842 being the figure at the lower secondary level Language of Instruction: French Teacher Training: The University Institute for Teacher Training (IUFM) requires good academic standing for admission. Successful candidates must complete one year of preparatory studies, which is supplemented by the recruitment examination of their choice. These examinations are as follows: *Certificat d'aptitude au professorat de l'Enseignement* (CAPE) - The Certificate for Qualification for Teaching required for teaching at the elementary level *Certificat d'aptitude au professorat de l'Enseignement du second degré* (CAPES) - The Certificate for Qualification for Secondary School Teaching required for teaching at the secondary level *Certificat d'aptitude au professorat d'éducation physique et sportive* (CAPEPS) - The Certificate for Qualification for Teaching Sports and Physical Education required for teaching physical education *Certificat d'aptitude au professorat de l'Enseignment* *technique* (CAPET) - The Certificate for Qualification for Technical Education required for teaching at technological institutions Teaching posts in the university sector are filled on the basis of a national examination or through an open examination set by the university. Selected candidates generally possess a doctorat (Doctrate degree) or an habilitation *à diriger des recherches* (a research qualification). Revised: May 06, 2004 . Copyright © 2003 World Education Services. All rights reserved.

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Education Profiles

France


Country Facts Education Overview Elementary Education Lower Secondary Education Upper Secondary Education Higher Education Grade-by-Grade Comparisons Other Resources



Administration and Finance:
The French educational system has traditionally been highly centralised. The State has overall responsibility for administration and governance of educational policy and is the main source of funding at all levels. The Ministry of Education establishes the teaching guidelines, creates the curricula and administers staff recruitment. The Ministry has approximately 30 external administrative departments, known as académies, which are responsible for the administration of educational policies in assigned geographical regions.

Size:
At present, there are approximately 18,500 schools at the pre-elementary and 41,000 at the elementary levels.

There are approximately 4,810 public and 1,846 institutions at the collège (lower secondary) level. There are around 1,114 public and 1,189 private institutions at the lycée (upper secondary) level. There are 86 universities in France.

Total enrolment for all levels is currently 14, 435, 800. Approximately 7, 608, 349 of these students are young people of compulsory school age (between 6-16 years of age).

Structure:
Pre-elementary education, known as école maternelle (nursery school), is non-compulsory and available for children between the ages of 2 to 6.

École élémentaire (elementary education) is compulsory for children between 6 and 11 years of age. This level is comprised of the basic learning cycle and the consolidation cycle.

The secondary level is divided into two stages that last for a total of seven years. Collèges (lower secondary) schools offer a four-year program that students enter at age eleven. Students then proceed to the lycée (upper secondary level).

At the higher education level, there are two main types of institutions: Grandes Écoles, which mainly focus on professional training and the traditional universities.

Private and Public Education:
The majority of école maternelles (pre-elementary institutions) are public. Approximately 17% of all students attend private schools, many of which maintain funding subsidy agreements with the State, thereby minimizing tuition fees. Consequently private schools are mandated to follow the public education curriculum, programmes and schedules.

Academic Year:
The academic year at both the elementary and secondary levels is comprised of 180 days from September to June. Schools are open for 36 weeks of classes, at six days a week, with no classes given on Wednesday or Saturday afternoons. At the elementary level, 846 is the minimum number of class hours required, with 842 being the figure at the lower secondary level

Language of Instruction:
French

Teacher Training:
The University Institute for Teacher Training (IUFM) requires good academic standing for admission. Successful candidates must complete one year of preparatory studies, which is supplemented by the recruitment examination of their choice. These examinations are as follows:

Certificat d'aptitude au professorat de l'Enseignement (CAPE) - The Certificate for Qualification for Teaching required for teaching at the elementary level
Certificat d'aptitude au professorat de l'Enseignement du second degré (CAPES) - The Certificate for Qualification for Secondary School Teaching required for teaching at the secondary level
Certificat d'aptitude au professorat d'éducation physique et sportive (CAPEPS) - The Certificate for Qualification for Teaching Sports and Physical Education required for teaching physical education
Certificat d'aptitude au professorat de l'Enseignment technique (CAPET) - The Certificate for Qualification for Technical Education required for teaching at technological institutions

Teaching posts in the university sector are filled on the basis of a national examination or through an open examination set by the university. Selected candidates generally possess a doctorat (Doctrate degree) or an habilitation à diriger des recherches (a research qualification).