National Education Reports 'Worrying' Results in 4th Grade Assessments
The Ministry of National Education in France has released the results of national assessments conducted in September for students in 6th, 4th, and 10th grades. The findings reveal a concerning trend, particularly in 4th grade, where results in French have declined. In contrast, 6th-grade results remain stable, with some improvements noted in mathematics, especially among students in the reinforced priority education network (REP+). The assessments, which are frequently debated by teachers' unions, aim to provide benchmarks for educators to tailor their teaching strategies.
In 6th grade, the ministry reported that while overall results are stable, there is a notable increase in mathematics performance among REP+ students. A comparison with previous years shows a decline in the percentage of students in the lowest performance groups in French from 31.7% in 2017 to 26.9% in 2024. However, the ministry cautions that less than half of the students demonstrate satisfactory levels in written comprehension, and a significant percentage, 43%, lack basic understanding of decimal equivalents.
In 4th grade, results in mathematics have remained stable, but French results are described as 'worrying' by the ministry. The decline in performance is attributed to challenges faced during the Covid-19 lockdowns when these students were in earlier grades. The ministry emphasizes the need to address the growing gap in performance between boys and girls in mathematics and aims to implement targeted support measures, such as the 'Homework Done' program, to help students improve.
Analysis of Secondary Education Performance
The assessment results for 2nd-year secondary school students show a mixed picture. While there has been an increase in mathematics performance, the results in French have decreased. In 2024, 15.7% of students in general and technological tracks fall into the lowest performance categories, up from 12.5% in 2021. This highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining educational standards across different subjects and grades.
The ministry acknowledges the impact of previous educational policies, including the mathematics and French improvement plans and the doubling of classes in priority education, but stresses that these measures are not sufficient to address the identified issues. The assessments serve as a crucial tool for educators to adapt their teaching methods to better meet the needs of their students, especially in light of the persistent challenges revealed by the results.
