The Education Question

The Education Question

Where better to compare systems than in the corridors of our school? A GCSE chemistry class leaves a room as some secondes walk in. They are supposedly learning about the same subject but there are obviously many differences that go far beyond the language of instruction.

Many of us at this school will have to or have had to make the choice between the British Section and la Section Française. This vital choice at the end of 4e is often pre-determined by parental preference and personal background. Let’s try, however, to be completely objective about the choice. Imagine you are bilingual and a decent student; imagine that fees are not an issue. Which one would you choose?

The main difference is one of eclecticism versus specialization. With this comes more or less emphasis on creativity , subject flexibility, class size.  One could say that the English system is more liberal and more tailored towards the students' interests inasmuch as it allows freedom to choose the subjects they take from an earlier age.  You drop some subjects at GCSE and then only study 3-5 subjects post-GCSE.  Critics accuse it of forcing kids to specialize at too young an age; worse still, of making them grow up too early. Is a 15 or 16 year old really mature enough to decide what he’ll never need to know?

Chart of GCSE - A -levels vis a vis bac, (number of subjects and lessons per week) 

 

The strong point of the french system is its breadth: it allows you to have an all round education throughout secondary school. However this is rather useless if you are to go straight into the job market, and the extensive school hours remove the possibility of getting notable work experience. Furthermore, the bac’s breadth is sadly slowly being narrowed as History is removed as a Terminale exam from the S stream next year. It should however be noted that you still have to speak three languages to a more or less high level whereas in the British system, you could get by with a mediocre level of English Language at GCSE then never have to take any language again.  This multilingualism is another advantage the French system in an increasingly inter-connected world.

In style of work the French system requires more diligent off by heart learning, and where it does offer room for imagination it is always kept within a tight methodological framework. The British system however, is more supportive of creativity and less procedural in its essays, which can admittedly at times make it less rigorous. However, if you know what sort of subjects you like and want a bit more spare time, I suggest you seriously consider the English option. But don’t think that less work and class time means easier work: A-Levels are more specialized and go further into their field of study, making them individually tougher than the corresponding bac exams.

When it comes to British universities, you’ll find it tough going for a straight science after the bac (except for Math-related subjects, provided you're in S) and near impossible if you’re looking at medicine or vet med or dentistry. That said, for other wider ranging courses, business, engineering and you will find yourself in a stronger position when compared to most A-level students. A-levels though are more obviously geared towards UK unis and A-level courses often lead on directly to their degree-level equivalent. Universities abroad, notably the US and Canada also like the Baccalauréat as it produces all-round intelligent students that they can develop at ‘college’.

I for one would never have gone into S had History been a premiere exam. As an entirely British student, what attracted me about the French system all along was its breadth and this was particularly noticeable in the scientific stream. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in later life, so the all-roundedness of the French system did it for me.  Then again, the lack of reward for creativity and the correcting mentality of finding what is wrong and punishing it instead of what is right and rewarding it is often frustrating.

Pearl Lake