A month has passed since the President of France announced a new reform in teacher training on April 5th, but no further details have been provided by the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. This has left the academic community, particularly teacher trainers, in a state of uncertainty, waiting for more information. In response to this lack of clarity, teacher trainers organized a “dead day” on May 6th in the national institutes for teacher training, which are set to become “normal schools of the 21st century” under the presidential project.
According to President Macron’s commitments, universities are supposed to offer supplementary modules starting in 2024 to help students prepare for the teaching recruitment exam, which will be moved to the end of the third year of a bachelor’s degree. This exam is scheduled for spring 2025. However, as of now, there are no official documents defining these modules, leaving university staff and students who are interested in teaching careers without any concrete information. The University of Orleans, for example, has requested a delay in the reform to allow for consultation and negotiation, as they believe it is currently only known through leaked PowerPoint presentations and media statements.
One major concern is the lack of additional resources for universities to implement these modules in 2024 or to open new teacher training programs in 2025, as stated by President Macron. The goal of the reform is to open these university programs while closing others with fewer job prospects. However, without clear guidelines on who will teach these modules or what specific content will be covered, there is uncertainty among educators and academics. The lack of clarity and the delay in providing information on the reform has been criticized by the Snesup-FSU union, with the secretary general describing it as institutional mistreatment.
The reforms in teacher training have raised concerns and questions about the future of education in France. With no clear plan in place, universities are left wondering how to proceed with implementing the changes proposed by President Macron. There is frustration among teacher trainers, university staff, and students who feel they have been left in the dark about the details of the reform. The expectations set by the government versus the reality universities are facing highlight the challenges in implementing major changes in the education sector. Despite the intentions to modernize teacher training, the lack of clear guidance and resources has created uncertainty and confusion within the academic community.
