Anne Genetet, a member of the Ensemble pour la République (EPR) party, has been appointed as the Minister of National Education in the government of Michel Barnier. This marks the fifth change in leadership for the education sector in the last fifteen months. Genetet, who represents the 11th district of French citizens living abroad, will be taking over from Nicole Belloubet, who had been serving as the minister since February. She will be assisted by Alexandre Portier, a member of the Les Républicains party, who has been named as the Minister Delegate in charge of academic success and vocational education, a new title for the role.
The decision to appoint the 61-year-old Genetet, known for her work in defense and diplomacy, comes as a surprise to many. With a background in medicine and a degree in medical journalism and communication, she has worked as a doctor and a journalist before becoming a consultant in Singapore. She has also been involved in various NGOs working with domestic workers, and founded a consulting company that helps Western expatriate families with employer-household employee relationships. Genetet has been a member of the French Parliament since 2017, serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee during Macron’s first term and on the Defense Committee from 2022 to July 2024. Despite some involvement in education-related issues, she is not known for her public stance on the matter.
Alexandre Portier, 34, a former philosophy professor and close ally of Laurent Wauquiez, has been appointed as the Minister Delegate for academic success and vocational education. As a deputy since 2022, he has been active in educational matters and has proposed legislation on teacher training, a key issue moving forward. He has also defended private schools under contract in a newspaper article. Given their backgrounds, the duo seems aimed at striking a political balance.
The appointment of Genetet, who was previously unknown to education stakeholders, has been met with criticism. The largest teachers’ union, SNES-FSU, has expressed disappointment in the choice, noting that Genetet lacks experience and legitimacy in the education sector. The union believes that she is not the right person for the job and will not be able to effectively address the concerns of educators. The decision has been described as upsetting and disappointing by some in the education community.
Despite the initial skepticism surrounding Genetet’s appointment, it remains to be seen how she and Portier will approach the challenges and opportunities within the education sector. The Ministry of National Education faces numerous issues, including teacher training, vocational education, and academic success. Genetet and Portier will need to work closely with educators and stakeholders to address these issues and ensure a positive and effective education system for all students. The French education system is poised for change under this new leadership, and only time will tell how successful they will be in bringing about positive reforms.
