Since the high school reform, which put an end to the traditional series (L, ES and S) in 2019, maths has been taught as a specialty, outside of the common core. They are no longer compulsory from the first and can be followed as a specialty (there are three of them in first, two in terminal) or with the option “complementary mathematics” in terminal.
Teachers have been alarmed for several years by a drop in the number of first and final high school students taking this subject, especially among girls. At the start of the 2021 school year, girls only represented 39.8% of students who chose the mathematics specialty.
Expert Committee
At the beginning of February, Jean-Michel Blanquer had estimated that it would “probably” be necessary to add mathematics to the common core of first and final.
In a letter sent Thursday evening to teachers, inspectors and rectors, of which AFP obtained a copy, the minister explains that he is launching a consultation. “It is to better listen to the various expressions and have the broadest and most objective vision possible that I have decided to set up a committee of experts responsible for conducting a large series of hearings in the coming weeks. all interested parties,” he wrote.
Since the beginning of February, the associations of mathematics teachers have been asking to be received urgently.
For this consultation, the Minister says he is aiming “in the first place the associations of teachers of mathematics, as well as those of other disciplines according to appreciation, those of physical sciences-chemistry and sciences and life of the earth in particular, the learned societies of mathematics and sciences, the representative organizations of staff, the representatives of the various higher education bodies, and of course the representatives of the pupils and those of the pupils’ parents”.
“The first meetings can be held next week,” he says.
Measures “from next school year”
According to him, “this committee will endeavor to establish a complete report on the situation of mathematics within the new general high school, to list the remarks and proposals, and to provide me with realistic and effective scenarios for improving the offer of teaching mathematics”.