While the protest against the reform of school schedules was very intense last fall, the Ministry of National Education wanted to assess the evolution of opinion on the matter in a context marked both by its generalization at the start of the 2014 school year and by the introduction of the possibility of adjustments in municipalities that wish to make them.
The study shows that the French identify a number of benefits associated with the reform, particularly for students’ learning, although concerns about organization remain strong.
When asked to give their opinion on the school year that is ending, a solid majority of the French consider that it went well (66% vs. 17%).
Thus, two-thirds of the French positively assess the outcomes of the school year. The opinion is even more positive among parents of school-age children: 92% declare that the school year went well.
More than 90% of the French and parents support the Ministry’s goal to prioritize primary education.
69% of the French and 67% of parents believe that concentrating teaching in the morning in primary schools is beneficial for students’ learning. Only a third of those surveyed think that the new school schedules cause fatigue and stress among students.
For the majority of the French, the implementation of the new school schedules is seen as a lever for reducing social inequalities (59%) and promoting academic success (52%). However, this implementation requires reassurance as organizational constraints for municipalities and families are noted by the French.
In this context, the Ministry’s approach to providing flexibility for municipalities is deemed welcome by more than two-thirds of the French (67%).
A positive assessment of the school year
When asked to give their opinion on the school year that is ending, the French are a clear majority in considering that it went well (66% vs. 17%). The judgment is even more positive among those directly concerned, namely parents of school children, with 92% believing it went well. Note that 72% of 18-24-year-olds also share this view.
Prioritizing primary school: an objective deemed very important for the Ministry
Furthermore, the French massively approve the Ministry of National Education’s objective to prioritize primary schools to combat academic failure. Indeed, 94% believe that this should be an important goal for the Ministry, with 66% considering it even “very important”.
This perception is also shared across all social categories and regardless of the political affiliation of those surveyed. Note that parents of children in elementary and high school are 70% likely to declare this objective as very important, and those with children in higher education are even more convinced (80%).
