High school students during a bac test.

(illustration) -

KONRAD K./SIPA

  • Terminale high school students normally have to take their first baccalaureate exams in March.

  • But two-thirds of high schools having implemented hybrid education since November, all will not be so well prepared for these tests.

  • Hence the hypothesis of a postponement in June or a cancellation in favor of continuous monitoring.

A countdown which begins to stress the high school students of Terminale.

They must take their first bac exams, those of specialties, between March 15 and 17.

Finally, if the health situation allows it, because the emergence of new variants of the more contagious coronavirus and the fear of a third re-containment do not bode well.

The Minister of Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, indicated on Tuesday that a decision on the baccalaureate would be taken "by the end of January".

For the time being, his intention is clear: “My goal is to maintain the planned timetables as much as possible,” the minister said on France Info.

Especially since this year opens the ball for new tests of the reformed bac.

But keeping them in their classic format would pose some problems.

First of all, they would require an organization to the line to ensure good sanitary conditions to the candidates.

Keeping the same dates would be problematic, according to Jean-Rémi Girard, president of the National Union of High Schools and Colleges (Snalc): “The students are not ready.

Many of them were on the verge of dropping out last year and the fact that a majority of high schools have switched to hybrid mode since the beginning of November, with gauges of 50% of students, means that teachers are advancing more slowly in the curricula, especially in science subjects ”.

All the students would not leave with the same chances, also believes Philippe Vincent, general secretary of the first union of school leaders (SNPDEN): “Some high schools have kept 100% of face-to-face lessons while for others, it is is 50%.

They will not be on an equal footing to prepare for their exams ”.

The hypothesis of postponement of the specialties tests

Aware of this problem, the Ministry of Education invited, in a circular published on January 15, the establishments "to organize successful internships concerning the specialties of Terminale during the winter holidays".

It also encourages them to organize “personalized preparations” for the specialty tests, by mobilizing overtime.

But for Philippe Vincent, it will be very difficult to find volunteer teachers for this mission: "Teachers who want to sacrifice a week of vacation or work hours in this tense health context, it is not under the hooves of a horse. », He quips.

As for Snes, he interpreted these suggestions as "a new provocation" from the tenant of the rue de Grenelle.

The other solution would be to postpone the specialties exams to June, which the candidates would take with the written philosophy and the grand oral.

But again, this would not be a panacea.

Because the marks for these two specialty tests could not then be taken into account in their application on Parcoursup.

“We would come back to the previous situation: the candidate would be evaluated on his three 1st and his first two final exams.

This means that if the student had had very good results in his specialties tests, he could not derive any benefit from it, ”emphasizes Philippe Vincent.

Another concern according to him: these two tests would be placed before the grand oral on June 17.

"This means that we will cut off the month of June instead of reclaiming it and that we will be obliged to provide for class councils in May".

Finally, some teachers could have a very heavy workload: "This will be the case for those who will be both a member of the jury for the grand oral and who will correct the specialties tests," notes Jean-Rémi Girard.

Replace tests with continuous assessment?

The last solution would be to cancel the first exams of the bac, or even all of them.

And therefore to switch to continuous control, like last year.

Because in addition to the specialties tests, others ask questions according to Jean-Rémi Girard: “The students are not prepared for the grand oral, because it was not the priority of the teachers.

Maintaining it for reasons of political display would not make sense.

The students' marks for this test will not reflect the quality of their work ”.

But not sure that Jean-Michel Blanquer accepts that the tests of this reformed baccalaureate thus go by the wayside.

"The reform of the bac, it should however be put in parentheses", insists Jean-Rémi Girard.

For its part, the Snes asks that its demands on the bac be heard (postponement of the specialty tests from March to June, adjustment of the programs for the French and philosophy tests, cancellation of the grand oral).

And recalls that he called for a strike next Tuesday with several other unions.

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  • BAC