Vocational high schools: what Macron wants to change

After having reformed in 2018 learning , Emmanuel Macron wants to make vocational high schools a “national cause”. The aim is to increase the attractiveness of these sectors, by giving access to more qualifying training, to improve the professional integration of young people and to fight against school dropouts.

In France, a third of high school students, or approximately 621,000 students, are educated in vocational high schools. But only one out of two vocational baccalaureate holders manages to find employment the year after obtaining their diploma and among those who pursue a BTS, too many drop out in the first year, deplores the Elysée.

“The goal is that everyone can find a good job, a job with a good salary, and which makes sense”, underlined Emmanuel Macron. For this reform, 1 billion euros per additional year is put on the table, in order to remunerate the students during their internships and to increase the salaries of volunteer teachers for new missions.

Emmanuel Macron, in Saintes, on May 4, 2023, during the presentation of the reform of vocational high schools.Dominique Jacovides -pool/SIPA

Overview of the main measures:

· An internship allowance

From the start of the 2023 school year, vocational high school students will receive a little money during their period in business. Today there is no compensation. Supported by the State, it will be up to 50 euros per week in second cl***, 75 euros in first and 100 euros in terminal.

· More internships in final year

For the final year, the duration of the internships will be increased by 50% for those who wish to go directly into employment. On the other hand, it does not change for the years of second and first.

Terminale students wishing to continue their studies will have 4 weeks of additional lessons to better prepare for their entry into BTS.

Emmanuel Macron wishes to develop one-year post-baccalaureate vocational training (FCIL).

Fred Scheiber/SIPA

Redesign of the training offer

Certain sectors of vocational high schools, with no outlet on the labor market, will be closed “because the economy and needs are changing”, justified Emmanuel Macron.

The idea is to create new sectors, in promising sectors, such as digital or ecology. From the start of the 2023 school year, 2,600 places will be closed and 3,000 places will be open. This cycle of closing and opening will accelerate and will take place until the start of the 2026 school year.

In each establishment, a map of jobs in tension and a map of jobs in the making will be put in place. These indicators will be published for secondary school students and their families. At the level of the employment basin, the sub-prefect will be responsible for coordinating this work, before the State and the regional council adapt the training map.

Objective “zero dropout”

From the start of the 2023 school year, establishments will be able to strengthen support in small groups in fundamental subjects. Optional courses may also be opened “as close as possible to the aspirations of the students (modern language 2, coding, entrepreneurship, etc.)

The Head of State says he wants to strengthen the general teaching of students and promises more teaching resources. “We are going to generalize support in small groups, it will be done establishment by establishment,” he said.

Pupils who drop out in the first term can be directed during the year to other structures such as second chance schools or Epide (establishments for integration into employment).

Nicolas Messyasz/SIPA

· Reinforced link with the business world

Emmanuel Macron announced the establishment of “a business office in each vocational high school” to guarantee better support for students, and the arrival in these establishments of “***ociate teachers” from the business world.

“Training in vocational high schools must reflect the reality of today’s professional world. We must continue to create more links between the educational world and the business world, ***uming that vocational high school is a third way,” explained the Head of State.

· New missions for teachers

To bring this rapprochement between the vocational school and companies, teachers will be offered a “pact” which will allow them to be paid more for new missions. “Volunteer teachers will become the interface between high schools, businesses and public employment service partners,” said Emmanuel Macron.

These new ***ignments will cover short-term replacements for absent colleagues, coordination of reflection on the evolution of the training map in each establishment or even support for students towards employment or higher education. By combining the increase in remuneration promised to all teachers and these additional missions, “each committed and voluntary teacher will be able to have an additional 7,500 euros gross annual”, ***ured Emmanuel Macron.