Luc Chatel

Luc Chatel continued the policy of not replacing some retiring civil servants: 13 500 job cuts took effect at the start of the 2009 academic year, with another 16 000 planned for 2010, followed by further reductions. In 2011, nearly 9 000 primary school positions were cut and approximately 1 500 classes were due to close, triggering strong local and union opposition.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Political responsibility

Luc Chatel sought to replace a substantial part of traditional pedagogical inspection with an assessment system giving school heads a greater role. Major unions denounced a 'distortion of the profession' and a managerial approach, prompting a national strike.

State of the evidence

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Political responsibility

Luc Chatel generalised the vocational baccalaureate over three years instead of the previous pathway, often completed in four years with an intermediate BEP qualification. The reform sought to align its length with general and technical streams and increase the number of baccalaureate holders, but faced lasting criticism for reducing training time and weakening some pupils' prospects.

State of the evidence

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Political responsibility

Following controversy over Jean-François Copé's use of 'anti-White racism', Luc Chatel publicly supported him and pointed out that Najat Vallaud-Belkacem herself had used the phrase in another context. The debate sharply divided left and right over adopting language historically associated with the far right.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

Luc Chatel continued the 'masterisation' reform launched under Xavier Darcos, requiring future teachers to hold a master's degree and removing the former paid training year combining work and study at teacher training institutes (IUFM). Academics, unions and trainers criticised the lack of support for entrants to the profession.

State of the evidence

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Political responsibility

After a probability question from the scientific baccalaureate mathematics exam was leaked online, Luc Chatel decided not to rerun the paper but to disregard the four marks allocated to the question. Parents, pupils and teachers challenged the solution, and at least one application was filed with the Council of State.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Political responsibility

After Xavier Darcos postponed his reform in 2008, Luc Chatel resumed the overhaul of upper secondary education and proposed a new structure with more individual support, changes to the first year and reorganisation of academic streams. The proposal triggered demonstrations by teachers and pupils and criticism concerning subjects and resources.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility