–
In a month, next June 17, the bac philosophy test will take place. While this 2021 bac was finally maintained by the ministry, voices were raised among high school students and teachers to demand the cancellation of the final exams.
” The rupture of equality between the students, it is already recorded. No two high school students have had the same school year in France with covid. The ministry has kept the baccalaureate but it doesn’t want to realize that it is not an ordinary year. ” In a month, on June 17, the first test of the bac will take place with philosophy. But the teacher Jérôme Ethève, union representative at Force Ouvrière, considers that the health crisis that raged in 2021 had a damaging impact on his preparation.
An impact that can only lead to wonder about the holding of final exams even though several high school organizations are calling for a full rating in continuous assessment. Far from listening to them, on May 5, Jean-Michel Blanquer for his part confirmed that the philosophy test would know some adjustments: there will be four subjects rather than three and this will be the best score between the continuous assessment and the test. final which will be retained. For the grand oral, the new system allows students to keep their draft in front of the jury and to rely on a visual support.
However, some remain skeptical about the interest of continuing a baccalaureate in 2021 in view of the consequences that the new educational systems have had on students. ” The students are demotivated. We can feel it. With the introduction of the half-gauges, they are in semi-distancing, which has an impact on their achievements and their work. The ministry pretends to ignore all this while it adds to the problems already posed by the reform of the bac. ”
While it is certain that distance education has an impact on students, in particular widening the inequalities between them and accentuating school dropout, parents of students believe that the baccalaureate should not go by the wayside this year. The latter consider that this centenary diploma constitutes an important moment of preparation for the pupils for the continuation of their schooling. ” For many high school students, being confronted with the difficulties of the bac allows you to validate your abilities. Even if the conditions are not ideal for them, it is an experience which is important for them before going on to graduate studies.“
A large part of continuous monitoring
If the academic interest represented by holding a baccalaureate in 2021 is subject to discussion, the fact of bringing together so many students to take tests in the midst of a pandemic also raises questions. The rectorate wants to be reassuring, however, and indicates that all precautions have been taken to avoid contamination between candidates. ” We are perfectly well versed in the organization of these events, indicates the rector Chantal Manès-Bonnisseau. The rules of social distancing and barrier gestures will be respected. Self-tests will also be available to high school students at the beginning of June. They will be able to use them on a voluntary basis. ”
In this special 2021 bac, Jérôme Ethève insists and affirms that the ” thermometer is broken “. A metaphor to emphasize that equity is no longer respected between students and that the traditional function of the baccalaureate, that of being able to measure the level of students impartially throughout the country, is now a thing of the past. A vision that clearly does not share the rectorate. ”Keeping final exams is a guarantee of fairness, poses the rector. The criticism that can be made with the continuous monitoring is precisely to cause a rupture of‘equality. But for our part, we are very attentive to these questions and this year we have reinforced the procedures which allow the harmonization of the marks at the jury level. ” Procedures that will only apply to a minimal part of the final grade. Because since the cancellation of the specialty tests, the part of the continuous assessment scoring is now increased to 80% in the evaluation of the candidate’s success.
— –