Although the results of pupils leaving elementary school have improved over the past five years, in particular for pupils’ ability to read aloud fluently, they are still insufficient: on entering 6th grade, 27% of pupils do not have the expected level in French, nearly a third in mathematics. Barely one in two pupils can read a text with ease and the degradation of spelling has become worrying.
Faced with this observation, the Minister of National Education and Youth, Pap Ndiaye, announced this morning several measures relating to cycle 3 which is that of the link between school and college and covers the classes of CM1, CM2 and 6th. In primary school, the educational effort focused for 5 years on CP, CE1 and CE2 must be continued with the same intensity and supplemented by an action resolved in classes of CM1 and CM2 in order to register in the long term the acquisition of the fundamental knowledge necessary for the success of each student:
- From this month of January, educational recommendations (for example on the regular practice of dictation, the daily practice of writing, the regularity of mental calculation) are addressed to CM1 and CM2 teachers, trainers and inspectors in order to give them the means to help all students succeed;
- From the start of the 2023 school year, all CM1 students will take national assessments in French and mathematics which will give teachers pedagogical benchmarks in order to prevent difficulties from setting in.
While it should make it possible to establish continuity between school and college and to consolidate fundamental knowledge, the 6th grade often marks a sudden break for students and their families.
The Minister of National Education and Youth, Pap Ndiaye, aims to build a new 6th grade which can ensure that each pupil, in the continuity of the actions already undertaken in primary school, masters the fundamental knowledge essential to following his education. In order to remedy academic difficulties and give students the same chances of success, the following measures will be implemented from the start of the 2023 school year:
- School teachers will intervene in 6th grade to promote the transition between school and college and support the learning of fundamental knowledge;
- Each student will benefit from one hour a week of support or further study in mathematics or French, around key skills, in order to remedy the difficulties of the most fragile and cultivate excellence in the most comfortable;
- The “Homework done” system will be made compulsory in order to give students more autonomy and thus reduce inequalities in learning.
It will also be a question of taking into account the young age of the pupils when they enter college. The issue of securing the school space for their tranquility and the construction of their self-esteem is fundamental:
- Implementation of new provisions, at the discretion of the teams, for example within the framework of the consultations of the National Council for Refoundation (organization of school spaces, support and tutoring by a teacher, etc.);
- Reinforcement of cultural activities and sports practice (extension of the collective part of the Pass culture in 6th and 5th and generalization of the 2 hours of sport per week).
In the coming weeks, a consultation will be initiated with all the actors of the educational community on the evolution of 5th, 4th and 3rd grades to make middle school the place where all students progress, develop and prepare for their future by the end of the five-year term.
All topics will be covered. This work may relate to the methods of evaluation. The National Patent Diploma will be revised if necessary.
These developments include the presidential commitments already announced:
- From the start of the 2023 school year, the discovery of professions from the 5th class;
- The promotion of digital skills (learning to code in particular) and technological culture as part of a revaluation of technology education;
- The fight against sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity by the generalization of 2 hours of sport per week.
The course of the pupils, from primary school to the end of secondary school, can be adapted to the pupils who need it so that they can acquire the necessary knowledge in more time.
The educational teams will be invited to take up all of these developments and, if necessary, to enrich them within the framework of the CNR consultations “Our school, let’s do it together” in order to both provide the necessary degree of autonomy, promote ownership of the reform and its adaptation to the needs of each college.