France implements the reform of mandatory mathematics examin

According to reports from French newspapers such as Le Figaro and Echo on the 12th, French Minister of National Education and Youth Atal recently announced an important education reform measure: starting from June 2026, all high school sophomores will be required to take a specialized mathematics exam, and the exam results will be a key component of the high school graduation examination, regardless of whether the student's chosen major includes mathematics or not.

In addition to this measure for high school students, Atal also proposed a structural reform plan for lower grade students. For students aged 11 to 14, they will be evaluated based on their performance in core subjects such as mathematics and French, and assigned to different levels of learning groups accordingly. This move aims to provide customized learning experiences for students with different abilities, ensuring that each student can receive appropriate support and advanced teaching.

The Parisian newspaper pointed out that in 2019, the French education authorities abolished the compulsory status of mathematics courses, and the results of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development showed a sharp decline in French students' mathematics grades, which has caused deep concern in the education sector. The core goal of this reform is to comprehensively strengthen students' mathematical abilities at all school age stages. It is worth mentioning that the current President Macron made a promise during the 2022 election that if elected, mathematics would return to the core position of public education and become a compulsory subject again.

Once the reform measures were announced, they gained widespread support in society, but at the same time, they also sparked discussions among some people about the potential impact of educational equity and student pressure. Supporters firmly believe that early and ongoing math tests can help improve the math proficiency of students nationwide; However, critics are concerned that frequent testing and tiered teaching may exacerbate students' anxiety and even unintentionally widen the education gap. The effectiveness of France's mathematics education reform is undoubtedly worthy of continuous attention.