2. Stage (2015): The Reform of the French “Collège“ under the Minister for Education Vallaud-Belkacem (2015)
The reform of the lower secondary education (the so-called "collège") is the second step of the educational reform called "Refondons l`école" (Let`s re-establish school) of the government under François Hollande in France. In march 2015, the minister for education Najat Vallaud-Belkacem presented the planned reform of the collège. More interdisciplinarity during the classes, a greater autonomy for the collèges in structuring their schedules, beginning earlier with the second foreign language - the reform proposes a multitude of changes. Yet, there is one change that even launched an transnational debate between France and Germany: the intended changes to the German language classes in France.
We provide you with an overview of the debate in the French, German and English media, as well as with links to the official documents concerning the reform and some organisations protesting against the reform:
Overview of the reform
Collège : mieux apprendre pour mieux réussir (Collège 2016) 
France
Official information page of the French Ministry for Education about the reform of the French Collège starting in spring 2015 under Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem (in French only). The site provides current news, the minister's presentation dossier on the planned reform, key points, questions and answers, statements and press [...]
Questions/réponses sur la nouvelle organisation du collège (éduscol) 
France
éduscol is a portal provided by the French Ministry for Education for professionals in education. The page linked here provides information on the reform of the French Collège under minister Vallaud-Belkacem starting in 2015. You will find question and answers, explanations and graphics, as well as all important official documents. [...]
La réforme du collège unique / Projet de réforme Vallaud-Belkacem (Wikipedia.fr) 
France
Two chapters in the French Wikipedia article on the "Collège de France" that show the development of the Collège since the 1950s in France: La réforme du collège unique (The Reform of the Single Lower Secondary School), Projet de réforme Vallaud-Belkacem (Reform Project Vallaud-Belkacem). [Abstract: Editors of Education Worldwide]
Statements on the German language classes
Un enseignement de l’allemand conforté 
France
Statement of the French Education Minister Vallaud-Belkacem to the criticism to her reform of the Collège and perception that the reform cuts down German language lessons in the Collège. [Abstract: Editors of Education Worldwide]
The VDFG calls for: Non au déclin programmé de l’Allemand en France (No to the programmed decline of German in France), 11.04.2015 [courtesy translation] 
France
Critical statement by the "Association of German-French Societies for Europe" concerning the changes in the German language courses planned in the educational reform of the French Collège by French Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem (11th April 2015). [Abstract: Editors of Education Worldwide]
In the Media (English)
French schools to boost foreign language learning (France 24 - 12.03.15) 
"French Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem announced a series of reforms to middle-schools Wednesday, including a proposal for starting a second foreign language earlier and giving schools greater autonomy over schedules." [Source: Internet portal France 24, 12.03.2015]
Who in the world wants to learn German? (Deutsche Welle 22.04.15) 
By Bettina Kolb - "German as a foreign language is booming in emerging countries like India, Brazil or China. In Europe, it remains particularly attractive in Poland, but may be imperiled in France, where schools are cutting down on German classes. Find out where in the world people are learning German and why in our interactive graphic." Source: Deutsche Welle 22.04.15
France seeks to soothe German language fears (Reuters 29.04.15) 
"France sought on Wednesday to allay fears in neighboring Germany that teaching of the German language would suffer under a forthcoming education reform. (Reporting By John Irish, Elizabeth Pineau in Paris, Andreas Rinke and Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin; editing by Mark John and Ralph Boulton)" Press Agency Reuters, 29.04.2015
French Education Minister sparks diplomatic situation with Germany by proposing to abolish 'two-language' classes for 11-year-olds (The Independent 29.04.15) 
"... [T]he French Education Minister has provoked a cross-Rhine storm by proposing to abolish special classes which allow some clever French 11-year-olds to learn German alongside English from the first year of secondary school. Instead, says the minister, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, all children in France will be taught a second modern language of their choice from the age of [...]
In the Media (German)
Why Do French People Not Learn German Anymore? (Die Welt 01.09.2013) [courtesy translation] 
German newspaper article. Available only in German.
Protests Against Educational Reform: France Cuts Down German Language Classes (FAZ 15.04.15) [courtesy translation] 
German newspaper article. Available only in German.
France Thinks German Language Is Too Elitist (Die Welt 17.04.2015) [courtesy translation] 
German newspaper article. Available only in German.
Profile of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem: A French Minister for Education Who Doesn't Like the German Language Too Much (Süddeutsche 17.04.15) [courtesy translation] 
German newspaper article. Available only in German.
Learning Languages: German - yes please! (DLF 21.04.15) [courtesy translation] 
German radio broadcast. Available only in German.

Are the German Language Classes in France in Danger? (arte 21.04.15) [courtesy translation] 
German-French Television Website, artcile available only in German.
Educational Reform in France: Is the GermanLanguage in Danger? (tagesschau.de 21.04.15) [courtesy translation] 
German television broadcast. Available only in German.
Parlez-vous [Do you speak] German? (Süddeutsche 21.04.15) [courtesy translation] 
German newspaper article. Available only in German.
German Language in French Schools: "Me no speak Allemande" (taz 28.04.15) [courtesy translation] 
German newspaper article. Available only in German.
Educational Reform: France Intends to Cut German Language Lessons (DLF 20.07.15) [courtesy translation] 
German Radio Broadcast (20.07.15), only available in German
In the Media (French)
Réforme du collège : revue de presse (Reform des Collège: Pressespiegel) 
France; Germany
The ADEAF (Association for the Development of the German Language in France) provides a press review in German and French on the discussions about the French educational reform of the lower secondary education in 2014/15 under Minister for Education Vallaud-Belkacem. Especially the changes planned for the German language [...]
Date | Journal | Article | Subject |
---|---|---|---|
07.03.15 | Le Parisien | Une deuxième langue dès la 5e | Overview of the reform (especially language classes) |
11.03.15 | Le Parisien | Najat Vallaud-Belkacem : «Le collège doit être unique, pas uniforme» | Overview of the reform |
11.03.15 | Les Echos | Education : ce qui va changer dans les collèges en 2016 | Overview of the reform |
11.03.15 | Le Parisien | Les principaux changements | Overview of the reform |
11.03.15 | Le Monde | Ce que prévoit la réforme du collège prévue pour la rentrée 2016 | Overview of the reform |
16.04.15 | Le Monde | Réforme des programmes scolaires : ce qui changera pour les élèves | Overview of the reform |
10.03.15 | Libération | Un collège unique plus retouché que réformé | Overview of the reform / Criticism of the reform in general |
16.04.15 | Les Echos | Ayrault s’en prend à la réforme du collège | Criticism of the reform in general |
16.04.15 | Les Echos | Réforme du collège : appel à la grève le 19 mai | Criticism of the reform in general |
17.04.15 | Les Echos | Réforme du collège : pourquoi le projet fâche | Criticism of the reform in general |
18.04.15 | Le Monde | Profs et politiques contre la réforme du collège | Criticism of the reform in general |
15.04.15 | L`express | Ayrault critique la réforme du collège menée par le gouvernement | Reform and German language classes in France / Criticism of the reform in general |
16.04.15 | Europe1 | Collège : Ayrault s`inquiète pour l`enseignement de l`allemand | Reform and German language classes in France / Criticism of the reform in general |
16.04.15 | Le Figaro | Ayrault «inquiet» de la réforme des collèges de Vallaud-Belkacem | Reform and German language classes in France |
16.04.15 | Le Parisien | La réforme de Najat Vallaud-Belkacem vexe les Allemands | Reform and German language classes in France |
29.04.15 | Le Monde | Le gouvernement annonce la création de 515 postes d`enseignants en allemand l`an prochain | Reform and German language classes in France |
29.04.15 | Le Parisien | Le Foll assure que l`enseignement de l`allemand n`est pas menacé au collège | Reform and German language classes in France |
Associations
Association pour le Développement de l’Allemand en France (ADEAF) 
France; Germany
The ADEAF (Association for the Development of the German Language in France) is a national organisation with about 1800 members, most of them German language teachers or German studies scholars. The website provides a newsletter, official information (educational policy etc), information about relevant events, thematic [...]
Vereinigung Deutsch-Französischer Gesellschaften für Europa e.V. (VDFG) 
France; Germany
The VDFG ("Association of German-French Societies for Europe") has a French counterpart, the 'Fédération des Associations Franco-Allemandes pour l´Europe' (FAFA). Both were created in 1957 and form a unit. Currently, there are about 160 members, like German-French Societies, partnership associations, German-French choirs [...]
News on the educational reform
Dossier on the Educational Reform under Hollande in France starting in 2012
Further Resources
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