1.7 million fewer students in 2035: an unexpected opportunity to reduce inequalities?

1.7 million fewer students, including 930,000 in primary school alone. By unveiling enrollment forecasts for 2035 in “Le Parisien” on Tuesday April 7, the Minister of National Education, Edouard Geffray, produced his little media effect. The figure says a lot about the demographic challenge that awaits France in the coming years. The decline is impressive, both in absolute and relative terms: imagine that schools, colleges and high schools will see nearly 15% of their numbers disappear.

Above all, its unprecedented scale – a “Vague and seismic”as the minister described it – and its effects differ from one territory to another – rural/urban, suburb/city center – or from one sector to another – private/public, primary/secondary – require National Education to take up debates …