Taking Action for Education

Gaps in math and reading, social inequalities in academic achievement, deficiencies in social and behavioral skills… For the past thirty years or so, France has experienced an unprecedented decline in student achievement, to the point where it now finds itself in an unprecedented crisis. Yet, in a rapidly changing, technology-driven 21^st century, learning more effectively—and doing so throughout one’s life—must be a priority more essential than ever, capable of inspiring and energizing our youth and equipping them with the tools to understand and engage with the world.

With “Agir pour l’éducation ,” the goal is to understand, advise, and take action across all areas of expertise of the professors at the Collège de France. The initiative is organized into two parts: first, an ambitious series of lectures on learning and its methods, open to the public; and second, research projects and educational initiatives led by professors at the Collège de France:

• Professor Philippe Aghion, Chair in the Economics of Institutions, Innovation and Growth , and his initiative “ The Campus de l’innovation pour les lycées ”;
• Prof. Stanislas Dehaene, Chair of Experimental Cognitive Psychology , and his “Excello” initiative, whose laboratory develops educational tools for reading and mathematics based on cognitive science;
• Professors Jean-Luc Fournet, holder of the Chair in Written Culture in Late Antiquity and Byzantine Papyrology , and William Marx, holder of the Chair in Comparative Literatures , who aim to promote the practice of rhetoric and theater to help students defend a point of view and develop a better understanding of themselves and others;
• Professor Stéphane Mallat, holder of the Chair in Data science , who is developing the “MathAData” initiative for teaching mathematics in high school—which includes computer-based experiments on data challenges—and participates in the “ MathC2+ ” program;
• Professor Pierre-Michel Menger, Chair in the Sociology of Creative Work , whose “Diagnose to Act ” program analyzes the academic trajectories of French students in mathematics.
• Professor Esther Duflo , holder of the Poverty and Public Policies Chair, a specialist in field experiments in the field of education.

“I do not believe it is inevitable that our national education system is doomed to poor performance—but there is an urgent need for everyone—researchers, parents, and teachers—to come together to help our schools balance rigor, compassion, and educational effectiveness, so that we can return to the path of success.”

Professor Stanislas Dehaene, Chair of Experimental Cognitive Psychology —Leader of the “Agir pour l’éducation” initiative