Overview
- The 130-member convention convened by the CESE finalized a 20-point report that will be submitted to the government after formal adoption on Sunday.
- The blueprint calls for five full days of school from Monday to Friday starting in elementary grades, noting France is the only OECD country without universal five-day primary schedules.
- The report proposes cutting the vacation calendar from three to two zones for winter and spring breaks to balance seven-week teaching periods with two-week holidays, while keeping 16 total weeks off per year.
- For secondary schools, the proposals set a 9:00 a.m. start, cap class periods at 45 minutes, and target an end to lessons around 3:30 p.m. to free time for cultural and sports activities.
- The ideas remain nonbinding as ministers may adopt, modify, or reject them, with stakeholders already weighing logistical impacts on families, teachers, local authorities, and transport.