In the mid-1980s, approximately 29 percent of a given age cohort in France accessed the baccalauréat. Forty years later, that figure has surged to 80 percent, matching a target originally set by Jean-Pierre Chevènement when he was Minister of National Education. L’Express reported these findings in September 2026, unveiling a new Ifop poll titled “Les attentes des Français et des enseignants à l’égard de l’école” as high school student protests unfolded across the country.
How Pollsters And Researchers Measured The French Education Shift
The Ifop survey was conducted in September 2026 by Jérôme Fourquet, director of the opinion department at Ifop, alongside Clara Rovere. The research was commissioned by the Ecolhuma association, founded by Florence Rizzo to support teachers. Fourquet described the rapid expansion in academic access by noting that the progression is comparable to a German sedan accelerating from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in ten seconds. While nearly half of the general public views this massification favorably as a social achievement, secondary school teachers hold a distinctly more pessimistic view regarding its downstream consequences.
Why Secondary School Teachers Warn Of Falling Standards
According to the survey data, 78 percent of surveyed secondary school teachers believe that the 80 percent target has devalued the baccalauréat and intensified academic competition within higher education. Also, 71 percent of educators consider the widened access a driver of a general decline in teaching standards, compared with 64 percent of the general public. These findings align closely with international findings from the OECD’s Pisa 2025 assessment. Florence Rizzo pointed to teacher disarray as a core driver of this pessimism, noting that 51 percent of educators cite a lack of human and financial resources as a primary obstacle.
What Reforms Voters And Educators Want By 2035
When asked to prioritize reforms to stabilize the education system, 60 percent of the general public and 51 percent of teachers agreed that by 2035, every young person should solidly master reading, writing, mathematics, and reasoning by the end of mandatory schooling. Additional priorities include free choice of academic orientation and greater educational justice. However, when asked if these promises can realistically be kept, only 22 percent of surveyed teachers answered in the affirmative. Florence Rizzo emphasized that educators feel unsupported by the institution and face constant contradictory demands, with class sizes remaining among the largest in Europe and continuing education hours lagging behind elsewhere.
Where Generational And Political Divides Shape School Choices
The survey highlights distinct generational and political divisions regarding academic tracking and orientation. Among respondents under 50, 59 percent reported choosing their academic path, while 30 percent felt it was imposed upon them. Among those aged 50 to 64, responses split more evenly, with 41 percent choosing their direction and 45 percent experiencing it as a forced outcome. Political alignment also shapes these perceptions: 83 percent of Renaissance supporters stated they had a choice in their orientation, compared to 60 percent on the left, 56 percent on the right, and 46 percent among National Rally supporters.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Ifop Education Survey
When was the Ifop education survey conducted?
The survey titled “Les attentes des Français et des enseignants à l’égard de l’école” was conducted in September 2026 by Jérôme Fourquet and Clara Rovere for the Ecolhuma association.
What proportion of students reached the baccalauréat in the 1980s compared to today?
In the mid-1980s, about 29 percent of an age cohort achieved the baccalauréat. Four decades later, that proportion has reached 80 percent.
What percentage of teachers believe the 80 percent target lowered teaching standards?
Survey data indicates that 71 percent of secondary school teachers believe wider access to the baccalauréat has led to an overall collapse in teaching standards, compared to 64 percent of the general public.
What core subjects do respondents want prioritized for 2035?
Sixty percent of the general public and 51 percent of teachers support ensuring every student solidly masters reading, writing, mathematics, and reasoning by the end of mandatory schooling by the year 2035.
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