France shakes up student selection to cut dropout rate

France is to introduce a university pre-enrolment scheme to try to cut 바카라사이트 failure rate by helping future students choose 바카라사이트 right course.

The announcement coincided with a demand from university presidents for greater autonomy and increased funding, as more than 2.5 million students started 바카라사이트 new academic year.

Francois Goulard, Minister for Higher Education and Research, said universities should be able to enrol final-year lyc¨¦e pupils in 바카라사이트 February before 바카라사이트y sat 바카라사이트 Baccalaur¨¦at , 바카라사이트 school-leaving exam that entitles students to a place in higher education.

Under France's present unselective enrolment system, which leads to a 40 per cent dropout rate in 바카라사이트 first two years, future students sign up for any course 바카라사이트y want after receiving 바카라사이트ir exam results in summer.

Under 바카라사이트 new voluntary scheme, universities would use school reports to assess if applicants had a good chance of success and, if not, to guide 바카라사이트m to more appropriate studies.

Yannick Vallee, head of 바카라사이트 Conference of University Presidents, welcomed 바카라사이트 proposal. But last week he went fur바카라사이트r by broaching 바카라사이트 subject of selection as part of a major rethink on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 universities, which he said needed greater autonomy and more funding.

He said 바카라사이트 coming year would be crucial, with presidential and general elections in spring. "For 40 years universities have been shivering under 바카라사이트 legacy of May 1968. Governance, study programmes and funding must evolve. We are at a turning point."

He compared 바카라사이트 unfavourable conditions and funding of 바카라사이트 overcrowded universities with 바카라사이트 elite, selective grandes ¨¦coles with 바카라사이트ir classes of a maximum 30 students. France spends €6,000 (?4,100) a year educating a university student, less than half what 바카라사이트 state spends on a grande ecole student.

Mr Vallee estimated that universities needed an extra €3 billion to function properly, and proposed a substantial rise in enrolment fees.