In France, after graduating from high school, a middle school student will face two choices: going to college, or receiving vocational education and getting a job early. Higher education in France does not require examinations, and students often choose institutions with their families at home. But after two years, if you don't pass the evaluation of the school, you will be expelled from the school. Therefore, students can choose to attend vocational schools from the beginning after weighing themselves. If you want to go to college in the future, it is still allowed.
Diploma: only recognized by the Ministry of Education.
One of the characteristics, or advantages, of French vocational education is the uniqueness and effectiveness of diplomas. The diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education "is an industry standard vocational diploma". Ms. Bahazar, head of the French Ministry of Education, said. The diploma examination is arranged by the state. For example, if a worker who makes bread can get the bread vocational skill certificate issued by the school, he will clearly indicate what bread the worker can make, what work he can undertake independently, and what courses he has participated in in in specific practice. The French Ministry of Education has a special agency to manage the issuance of vocational diplomas throughout France. The members of this diploma committee are mostly business people, including representatives of enterprises and trade unions.
In order to ensure that vocational education is geared to the employment of the whole society, the Ministry of Education has also set up 17 advisory committees, such as hotel industry and construction industry. These advisory committees composed of business representatives decide the direction of vocational education. Before the diploma is formulated, the Vocational Education Department of the French Ministry of Education will consult whether jobs in this industry need new technologies, new skills and new workers. Only after being affirmed by business people will the Ministry of Education formulate or reform vocational diplomas.
"This is the foundation for the success of French vocational education," said Wang Xiaohui, a former full-time French education researcher at the National Education Development Research Center of the Ministry of Education. According to Wang, there are many kinds of vocational education diplomas in China, and the effectiveness of social certificates is usually higher than that issued by vocational schools. "Therefore, students in China Vocational School usually do textual research at school, not real technical study."
The market demand is changing rapidly. At present, there is an oversupply of cosmetics workers in Paris, but jewelry craftsmen can live in rare goods. "At this point, we will stop the enrollment of cosmetics majors. But students' interest is still concentrated on this major. "A middle-aged woman in charge of vocational education in the entire Paris school district of the French Ministry of Education told reporters. It is a very heavy job to monitor the market trend. She started working at 7: 00 in the morning and didn't get off work until 6: 00 in the afternoon. She even had a nosebleed and was interviewed by us.
Teacher: Pay attention to folk artists.
The French Ministry of Education tries its best to maintain the principle of fairness in the financial input of vocational education schools. In the interview, from the principals of schools at all levels interviewed, the head of education in the Paris school district, to the Ministry of Education, it is claimed that the government's funding for schools at all levels is the same, and all teachers are under the unified management of the Ministry of Education, and the standards are uniformly distributed. There is no difference in salary between teachers in higher vocational colleges and teachers in junior high schools.
However, the source of teachers in French vocational schools is worth learning. When visiting the workshop of Tourism Vocational School, a tall old man wearing a chef's hat, with a serious expression and strong body, was teaching students to bake bread. The headmaster said that this is a skilled baker. In the workshop, there are countless such folk masters. Ms. Bahazar said that every school district in France has a special department to recruit some folk artists as teachers in vocational schools. All professionals who are interested in preaching and teaching, if they are old, can apply directly to the district Council to be teachers. Young craftsmen will take the Technical Teacher Qualification Examination (CAPET).
These artists who become teachers are contract teachers of the Ministry of Education, not civil servants, so their salaries are much lower. "But for these old artists, being able to pass on their lifelong experience may be the peak of their expected career." The assistant principal of the tourism vocational school said.
Practice: School-enterprise docking
Vocational education in France has always been known for its close connection with employment. France has a complete education system from top to bottom to ensure that enterprises participate in vocational education.
In the Vocational Education Department of the Ministry of Education, there is a special business cooperation department. In vocational schools, there is also a department responsible for contacting enterprises, whose main task is to make enterprise training plans for students and predict employment. "Department directors should hold regular meetings with enterprises, three to four times a month, and talk with representatives of employers' associations." The principal of the aviation technical school said. On the other hand, according to the plan provided by the school, the district Council decides whether to offer new subject training after investigation, whether to provide it to school teachers and funds.
The connection between schools and enterprises has greatly reduced the blindness of education. The survey conducted by this aircraft repair school among recent graduates shows that the employment rate is close to 100%, while the average unemployment rate of young people in France is as high as 22% and that of 93 provinces in Paris is as high as 40%.
In education, enterprises also undertake the responsibility of providing internship positions for students. France levies 0.6% apprenticeship tax on enterprises. Enterprises can choose to pay taxes to the regional Council as the funds for the apprenticeship training center under the jurisdiction of the regional Council, or they can invest in the corresponding vocational schools.
Meng is now a graduate student at the University of Lyon. He is one of the few top students who transferred from vocational school to higher education system. Meng's first internship in France was to design a plan to develop the China market for the European Botanical Garden. It was an important new project at that time, but the company actually gave him full authority to do it. I used to be a "waiter" when I was an intern in China. "I was really flattered at the time." Meng said.
Studying in enterprises is the obligation of students, and it is almost the most important course in vocational schools. At the agricultural school, 23-year-old French boy Louis told reporters that they spent two-thirds of their time practicing outside. Although his parents have a 230-hectare farm in the suburbs of Paris, he must go to Canada for an internship. Because the school internship regulations say that you must practice 30 kilometers away from home and go to other countries.
ESSEC Group is the most prestigious management school in France. Many students apply for internships in this group every year. President Pierre Tappi is also rarely afraid to hand over important jobs to these young people. "Because this is an opportunity for companies to choose talents." This concept of entrepreneurs has formed a tradition in French business circles. In the words of Bai, Minister Counselor of the French Embassy in China, this is the vision of an enterprise.