Acting for education

Gaps in mathematics and reading, social inequalities in educational success, deficiencies in social and behavioral skills... Over the last thirty years, France has seen an unprecedented decline in the level of its students, to the point of reaching an unprecedented crisis. And yet, in the fast-moving technological world of XXI^st, better learning - and lifelong learning - is more important than ever, to inspire and enthuse our young people, and give them the keys to understanding and acting in the world.

With Agir pour l'éducation, the aim is to understand, advise and act, in all areas of expertise of Collège de France professors. The initiative is organized in two parts: on the one hand, an ambitious cycle of conferences on learning and its methods, open to the public, and on the other, research projects and educational actions led by Collège de France professors:

• prof. Philippe Aghion, Chair of Economics of Institutions, Innovation and Growth, and his initiative with " Le Campus de l'innovation pour les lycées ";
• prof. Stanislas Dehaene , Experimental Cognitive PsychologyChair , and his " Excello" initiative , whose laboratory develops cognitive science-based teaching tools for reading and mathematics;
• prof. Jean-Luc Fournet, Chair of Written Culture in Late Antiquity and Byzantine Papyrology, and Prof. William Marx, Chair of Comparative Literatures, whose aim is to promote the practice of rhetoric and drama to help students defend a point of view and develop a better understanding of themselves and others;
• prof. Stéphane Mallat, Data ScienceChair , who is developing the " MathAData " initiative for high school mathematics teaching, including computer experiments on data challenges , and is taking part in the " MathC2+ "  program;
• prof. Pierre-Michel Menger , Sociology of Creative WorkChair , whose " Diagnosing for Action" program analyzes the school and university careers of French students in the mathematical sciences.
• prof. Esther Duflo, Chair of Poverty and Public Policies, a specialist in field experiments in education.

"I don't see it as inevitable that our national education system should be plagued by poor performance - but there is an urgent need to mobilize everyone, researchers, parents and teachers, in order to help our schools reconcile rigor, benevolence and pedagogical efficiency, so as to rediscover the paths to success."

Prof. Stanislas Dehaene, Chair of Experimental Cognitive Psychology - Champion of the Agir pour l'éducation initiative