Paris Rector Christophe Kerrero Steps Down Amid Controversy Over Education Reform Project

The rector of Paris Christophe Kerrero announced on Friday February 2 that he was leaving his position in a letter to academy staff, against a backdrop of the failure of his project to reform preparatory classes in the capital intended to introduce more social diversity.

This extremely rare decision for a rector, that of Paris is considered one of the highest executives in National Education, comes after the suspension on Wednesday by the Ministry of Education of a rectorate project aimed at closing several preparatory classes at the start of the 2024 school year and open three others with a “more social” vocation, including one at the Henri-IV high school for future school teachers and two for professional high school students.

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According to a source close to the rectorate, “Mr. Kerrero could not continue to carry the school card after Minister Oudéa-Castéra disavowed him without warning him in a body which is the Superior Council of Education”.

“Today I am leaving my role as rector of the Paris academy, when our School is in the grip of doubt and the situation nevertheless requires the mobilization of each of its actors,” writes Christophe Kerrero in his letter to the staff of the ‘academy.

All measures are “supported and financed”

In a message sent to the press, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra’s entourage indicates that “the Minister takes note of her decision and thanks Christophe Kerrero for his recognized action and commitment in favor of National Education”. “All measures to support students in terms of promotion and social diversity taken by the rector of Paris are supported and financed. They will all be carried out,” the same source continued.

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“The Paris rectorate had considered three class closures to finance these initiatives. The minister accepts her choice to launch a moratorium on these closures, and thus to support even more strongly the social project of the rectorate and the existing offer”, a- we completed. Christophe Kerrero, former director of Jean-Michel Blanquer, has been rector of the Paris academy since July 2020.

The rectorate had decided to close three preparatory classes for the Grandes Écoles (CPGE): a preparatory class for business schools (ECG prep) at the Jacques Decour high school, in the 9th arrondissement, a first year literary class (hypokâgne) at the Lamartine high school (9th ) and one from the second year of literature (khâgne) at the Chaptal high school (8th).

The announcement of these closures had mobilized teachers and students in recent weeks, notably with a petition “against the weakening of literary pathways”.

2024-02-02 11:02:21
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