HISTORY OF French EDUCATION
In order to appreciate the French educational system, we need to take a brief look at their history. Traditionally, a son would learn the family trade as an apprentice and eventually take over the family business. In France, apprenticeship was the starting point for education. “Apprenticeship within trade corporation was generally long term (at least 5 to 6 years) and geared to the extremely young, since the average entry age was 12 to 13. “[1] . Everything changed after the French Revolution. “In March 1791 the Allarde decree set out the bases of the right to work that allowed all citizens the unrestricted right to practice a vocation.”[2] Also, “Napoleon created the lycees to train highly skilled but obedient civil servants and military officers, drawn from the bourgeoisie, for his growing empire.”[3] This was the start of the reconstruction of the education system. “Napoleon also created the first middle-level technical schools the ecoles d’arts et métiers, to train skilled workers, foreman and shop supervisors for the mechanical industries.”[4] Various other schools were established and “it was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that a benchmark national diploma for worker qualifications was created, the certificat d’aptitude profesionnelle (CAP) (Vocational training certificate), comprising numerous specialities and structured around a framework of trades.”[5]
[1] Gehin, J.P., 2007, Vocational Education in France. P. 35
[2] Gehin, J.P., 2007, Vocational Education in France. P. 36
[3] Day, C. R., 2001, School and Work: Technical and Vocational Education in France since the Third Republic. P.9
[4] Day, C. R., 2001, School and Work: Technical and Vocational Education in France since the Third Republic. P.10
[5] Gehin, J.P., 2007, Vocational Education in France. P. 37
[1] Gehin, J.P., 2007, Vocational Education in France. P. 35
[2] Gehin, J.P., 2007, Vocational Education in France. P. 36
[3] Day, C. R., 2001, School and Work: Technical and Vocational Education in France since the Third Republic. P.9
[4] Day, C. R., 2001, School and Work: Technical and Vocational Education in France since the Third Republic. P.10
[5] Gehin, J.P., 2007, Vocational Education in France. P. 37