France

Special Initiatives in Mathematics and Science Education

Every year, the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education, and Research organizes or supports a number of nationwide mathematics and science events. These events serve several purposes, but primarily aim to facilitate an interest in scientific languages and to promote access to mathematics and science outside of school. Examples of these events include the following:

• La Semaine des mathématiques (Week of Mathematics)¹⁹ —This event is designed to engage students at the primary and secondary levels and their parents through presenting a current, lively, and attractive picture of mathematics. It stresses the importance of mathematics in educating citizens and its role in their daily lives. It shows the diversity of professions in which mathematics plays an important or essential role and the richness of the links between mathematics and other disciplines. Finally, it shows that the practice of mathematics can stimulate emotions of an aesthetic nature, in order to reveal the link between mathematics, fun, and creativity.
• La fête de la Science (Science Festival)²⁰ —Founded in 1991, the Science Festival promotes exchanges between the scientific community and the general public. The festival welcomes more than 1 million visitors every year of all ages, representing families, schools, students, the curious, science skeptics, and science enthusiasts. The event addresses all areas of science from biodiversity to the universe, mathematics, the environment, human and social sciences, and nanotechnology. The aims of the Science Festival are to foster interest in science and curiosity about scientific careers among young people and to inspire them to pursue scientific vocations; to stimulate knowledge sharing and exchange between researchers and citizens; to facilitate access to quality scientific information; to enhance popular understanding of the challenges of scientific development; to publicize the work of scientists and research opportunities; and to raise public awareness of scientific culture.
• Les Rallyes mathématiques (mathematical rallies)—These are organized for students and schools in most academies. Modeled on the Olympics, the aim of mathematical rallies is to give students the opportunity to take a different approach to mathematics. Requiring curiosity, ingenuity, and initiative, the rallies develop the ability of students to work in teams and allow them to discover the pleasure of research.

There are numerous foundations, associations, and networks engaged in promoting mathematics and science. Most of them are involved in the events described above. Some also organize their own events, such as La main à la pâte and Canopé:

• La main à la pâte²¹ —Managed by the Scientific Cooperation Foundation for Science Education, La main à la pâte (which may be translated Hands On and Join In) was founded in 1996, by Georges Charpak (Nobel Prize in Physics, 1992), Pierre Léna, an astrophysicist, Yves Quéré, a physicist, and the Academy of Sciences. The primary objective of the initiative is to reform the teaching of science and technology in primary schools by promoting education based on scientific investigation. La main à la pâte awards annual prizes under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences. In particular, the annual primary school award distinguishes classes that lead experimental science activities using an investigative approach.
• Canopé²² —Canopé is a network that publishes educational multimedia resources (i.e., print, digital, cellular, and television) to meet the needs of the educational community. Canopé organizes a mental calculation contest (Mathador) for classes in Grades 3 to 9.²³

In December 2014, the Minister of Education introduced Stratégie Mathématiques (Mathematics Strategy), an initiative aiming to raise the level of student achievement in the field of mathematics. She announced 10 key measures in three main areas, as follows:

• Developing mathematics programs in tune with the times
  • Implementing a new curriculum within the framework of the common base of knowledge, skills, and culture
  • Enriching approaches to learning
  • Integrating research and innovations carried out in France and abroad
• Improving teacher education and enhancing student support
  • Reinforcing initial teacher education and ongoing professional development
  • Enhancing the attractiveness of the teaching profession and recruitment to the profession
  • Encouraging students to choose scientific careers
• Creating a new image of mathematics
  • Promoting a more conducive learning environment
  • Fighting against gender stereotypes
  • Enhancing and developing educational initiatives in mathematics both in schools and in extracurricular programs
  • Creating a national Internet portal dedicated to mathematics that will provide a reference tool for teachers