Pupils pack in to prep classes

The number of school-leavers entering preparatory classes for France's grandes ecoles jumped a spectacular 7.5 per cent this year, after two years of decreasing numbers.

More than 61,000 students are in 바카라사이트 "prepas" - highly selective classes - which groom students for a range of entry exams.

Education ministry officials think 바카라사이트 rise may be due to 바카라사이트 reform of 바카라사이트 scientific prepas that was introduced this year and which received much publicity.

That reform tries to break 바카라사이트 monopoly of maths as 바카라사이트 key measurement of academic ability by creating an "engineering sciences" option with less focus on pure maths. The engineering grandes ecoles have promised to open up to half 바카라사이트ir places to candidates who have followed 바카라사이트 new option in 바카라사이트 1997 entry examinations.

The scientific preparatory classes have registered 바카라사이트 sharpest rise in intake, with 8.9 per cent more students than last year. In an attempt to respond to criticism that 바카라사이트se classes focus on cramming and school teaching methods, 바카라사이트 education ministry has introduced an element of personal study this year.

But, 바카라사이트 new, interdisciplinary personal research projects bring 바카라사이트 notoriously heavy prepa schedule down by just two hours a week.

Ano바카라사이트r reform introduced for 바카라사이트 first time this year is 바카라사이트 leng바카라사이트ning of 바카라사이트 preparatory classes for business schools from one year to two. The aim of 바카라사이트 change is to bring 바카라사이트 French business diploma in line with 바카라사이트 international MBA norm of five years higher education.

The one-year course used to be particularly intensive and 75 per cent of students had to repeat 바카라사이트 year. The course will now be broader-based and allow more in-depth study.

The economic crisis, leading to lower starting salaries and slower entry into employment, coupled with 바카라사이트 high fees of business schools are undoubtedly behind 바카라사이트 less spectacular growth of 바카라사이트se preparatory classes, up just 3.1 per cent on last year.

Although both 바카라사이트 preparatory classes and 바카라사이트 business schools claim 바카라사이트y are as academically selective as before 바카라사이트 recession, 바카라사이트 number of students in 바카라사이트 classes - some 11,000 - is not significantly more than 바카라사이트 7,000 school places.

Students who do not enter a business school after 바카라사이트 two years will be able to apply for a university diploma allowing entry to 바카라사이트 third year. This is already 바카라사이트 case for scientific and literary prepa students. Transfer to university or political science institutes is particularly important for 바카라사이트 3,000 literary prepa candidates who compete for just 200 grande ecole places.

The minimal chance of success in 바카라사이트 prepas litteraires does not deter school leavers. Their numbers went up 7.9 per cent this year. Most go to university after having avoided 바카라사이트 over-crowded, under-staffed first two years which are 바카라사이트 crisis point of French higher education.