Robert Andrison
PARIS – Twenty leading economists and education specialists in France, including prominent figures such as Philippe Aghion and Stanislas Dehaene, are calling for a fundamental shift in the approach to educational system reforms. They advocate a transition from a series of sporadic changes to a long-term progress strategy. This comprehensive proposal, published in an opinion column in Le Monde, aims to improve national educational performance ahead of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 report.
This expert initiative emerges amidst global concerns about declining PISA scores. Various analyses indicate that the global education crisis, as reflected in PISA 2025 scores, which saw the worst drop since the new millennium, demands a more structured and sustained response.
The plan put forward by these intellectuals includes five concrete steps. They emphasize the importance of interventions that are not just instant responses but strategic investments yielding long-term results.
Here are the five main pillars of the strategic proposal:
- Significant improvement in the quality and status of the teaching profession, including better training and remuneration.
- Development of a more relevant curriculum adaptive to future needs, focusing on critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Investment in modern school infrastructure and innovative educational technology.
- Strengthening individual support for students in need, to reduce achievement gaps.
- Establishment of a transparent and continuous evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness of each policy.
The estimated cost of implementing this strategy is approximately 4 billion euros. This figure, according to the economists, represents a crucial investment for the future of French education. They argue that delaying addressing the root causes will only lead to far greater social and economic costs later on.
In their column, the experts assert, We must move from a succession of educational system reforms to a strategy of progress rooted in duration. This statement forms the core of their entire argument, underscoring the urgency of a holistic approach.
They observe that fragmented reforms often fail to create lasting impact. Policies that change with governmental shifts or short-term priorities actually hinder the accumulation of stable progress within the education system.
Philippe Aghion, a prominent economist, is known for his research on innovative growth. His involvement suggests that economic and innovation dimensions are primary considerations in this proposal. Stanislas Dehaene, a cognitive science expert, brings a perspective on how the brain learns, which is crucial for curriculum design and teaching methods.
Indeed, the education crisis is not solely a French phenomenon. The PISA 2025 report showing a drastic drop in global student scores has sparked serious concern in various countries, raising questions about the pandemic's role as a catalyst for the education crisis.
These experts urge the government to adopt a more stable and bipartisan framework for education policy. Such stability is expected to ensure that investments and initiatives are not eroded by political changes.
Implementing this strategy is considered vital to equip future generations with the necessary skills to compete in an increasingly complex global economy. The quality of education determines a nation's competitiveness.
For this strategy to succeed, broad consensus is required from various stakeholders, including teacher unions, parents, and civil society. Without collective support, large-scale reforms will be difficult to achieve.
This proposal is not merely a list of recommendations but a blueprint for fundamental transformation, expected to put the French education system back on a solid and sustainable path of progress.
Editorial Insight: The proposal by these economists and education specialists highlights a structural weakness in global education reform approaches that tend to be reactive. A focus on long-term strategy, continuous investment, and a holistic approach is imperative amidst the challenges of PISA 2025. The success of its implementation will depend on political will and the ability to build national consensus, transcending partisan interests. This could also serve as a model for other countries grappling with similar issues.
