France doing badly on teacher numbers

FRANCE is the capitalist democracy with the fewest teachers per student, a study shows.

There are only 6.1 teachers per 100 students (an average from primary school to university), according to the Centre d’Analyse Stratégique, a body which advises the Prime Minister’s office.

This leaves France below all other members of the OECD. The figure is pulled down by especially poor rates at both primary school and university where there are an average five teachers per 100 students. Those for secondary school are average, at 7.1.

The situation has become worse due to policies of cutting education posts: 50,000 from 2007-2010 in primary and secondary. As many again are expected to be cut by 2013.

President Sarkozy has said France must focus on “quality, not quantity”, adding that there are fewer pupils and more teachers than there were 20 years ago.