Minister announces changes to homework

He’s been in office for just two weeks but Jean-Michel Blanquer has already announced his first act as French Minister for Education - to stop homework being done at… home.

Blanquer announced the plan "to allow pupils to do homework at school rather than at home” on Friday, May 26, coming into effect in some schools from the start of the next term.

Reasons given by the minister for allowing children to do their homework before going home include promoting a relaxed family life, reducing the disparity which can exist between families and encouraging families to spend quality time together.

How this initiative will work has not yet been laid out. The minister promises to announce the details “soon”.

“I will listen to those involved to refine the plan and it will be adapted on a case-by-case basis. It could be that homework is supervised from 4pm to 6pm in the evening in all secondary schools,” he said.