Reportage. Colleges form classes according to the level of the students, a practice prohibited by the National Education. These level classes are based on languages or options and create discrimination between students. In some institutions, rare languages or popular options are ways to keep the children of privileged families. Commentary on factual images, illustration, interspersed by a vox pop, interviews with Philippe TOURNIER, President of SNPDEN, Nathalie MONS, President of CNESCO and Rodrigo ARENAS, Deputy Secretary General of CIPF.
Reportage. The education fair awarded the innovation prize to a Jean-Jacques Rousseau primary school in Tarbes. For 3 years, the school has set up classes adapted to the level of students. Students take classes in groups of levels whatever their age. But this requires a lot of adaptation on the part of students who constantly change classes and teachers. Comment on images of schoolchildren in class, interview with children and their teacher Pascale Abadie
Report devoted to the assessment tests of 6th grade students in colleges. These tests are a statistical tool but can also be used to determine groups of levels. Example at the Charles Péguy college in Paris. The weakest will be supported individually twice a week. Commentary on factual images, alternating with interviews with students and Marie-Paule JOSSE, French teacher at Charles Peguy College in Paris (19th).
Reportage. In Montpellier, meeting with the students of the Lycée Joffre which has several level classes. Some explain that the system favors especially the strongest and another that it encourages discrimination. Meeting with an official who explains that most colleges are in fact grouping by level even if it is not always clearly stated. Comment on factual images alternating with the testimonies of several students and the interview of a manager.
At Collège Jean Zay in Lens, the teaching team has been experimenting with the pedagogy of groups of levels with a class of 5th. Explanation of this system and how it is organized by the teaching team. Interview with a student satisfied with the system that allows them to progress. and two French teachers, Mr. Pierre-André Sotty and Mr. Godbert.
The Minister of Education, Mr. René HABY answers a question on the system of level groups in school launched by his predecessor Joseph Fontanet. He recalls the opposition of teachers' unions to this system. Although several institutions are experimenting with level groups, for him it is still too early to assess the outcome. He notes, however, that "some children are in the weak groups in all disciplines. It is therefore not certain that for these children, walking from one group to another is a superiority. On the contrary, it may, perhaps, give them some psychological difficulties".