France ranks last in Europe for math skills as education system 'plagued by inequality'

NICE/PARIS 

France ranked last in Europe for student math performance, according to the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

The study published on Wednesday highlighted deep-rooted issues in the country’s education system, which critics say is plagued by social inequality and inadequate funding.

Arthur Leduc, general secretary of CGT Educ’Action 06, described the results as evidence of a structural failure worsened by misguided political decisions.

📊 TIMSS 2023 Results: France ranked last in Europe for student math performance

🎙️ Arthur Leduc, General Secretary of CGT Educ’Action:

— The French school system is one of the most unequal in the European Union. If we truly want to give those who need resources the most the… pic.twitter.com/eClphuk8wY

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 5, 2024

“For years, we’ve seen a steady decline in learning conditions, exacerbated by successive reforms that have done more harm than good,” he told Anadolu.

Leduc criticized the extensive teacher job cuts implemented during Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency and continued under subsequent administrations.

“Each reform comes with an excuse to slash resources, but never addresses the actual needs of students and teachers,” he said.
The TIMSS study, which measures math and science skills among students globally, placed French 4th and 8th graders near the bottom of OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) rankings.

The survey also revealed a stark achievement gap, with privileged students outperforming their disadvantaged peers by 81 points — equivalent to two years of schooling.

“These disparities show that our education system has failed to uphold the principle of equality. This is a betrayal of the fundamental values of our Republic,” Leduc said.

To address the crisis, Leduc called for substantial investment in education, including hiring more teachers, improving working conditions, and providing greater support to students.

He also criticized the practice of grouping students by ability level, describing it as “social sorting” that worsens inequality.
France’s dismal performance stands in sharp contrast to top-performing countries like Singapore and South Korea.

The study also highlighted inadequate teacher training as a key factor in France’s poor show, a problem Leduc called a “planned disaster.”

A nationwide public sector strike, which saw significant participation from educators, aimed to bring these issues to the forefront.
“Education must be treated as a national priority, not a budgetary afterthought,” Leduc said.

While the Education Ministry has pointed to a stabilization of results since 2019, unions and experts argue that such claims mask a deeper crisis.

The key question remains: Will the French government take a decisive action to reverse the decline and restore the education system’s role as a ladder of opportunity?