Minister of National Education (France)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Sport , or simply "Minister of National Education," as the title has changed no small number of times in the course of the Fifth Republic
) is the French government cabinet member
charged with running France's public educational system and with the supervision of agreements and authorizations for private teaching organizations.
The Ministry's headquarters is located in the 18th century Hôtel de Rochechouart on the rue de Grenelle
in the 7th arrondissement of Paris
.
Given that National Education is France's largest employer, and employs more than half of the French state civil servants
, the position is traditionally a fairly strategic one. The current minister is Luc Chatel
.
in 1802. Following the various regime changes in France in the first decades of the 19th century, the position changed official status and name a number of times before the position of Minister of Public Instruction was created in 1828. For much of its history, the position was combined with that of Minister of Public Worship, who dealt with issues related to the Roman Catholic Church
, except in instances where the Minister of Public Instruction was a Protestant. The position has also occasionally been combined with Minister of Sports and Minister of Youth Affairs. In 1932, the office's title was changed to Minister of National Education, although it was briefly changed back in 1940-1941, and was renamed Minister of Education during the Presidency of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
(1974-1981).
French Fifth Republic
The Fifth Republic is the fifth and current republican constitution of France, introduced on 4 October 1958. The Fifth Republic emerged from the collapse of the French Fourth Republic, replacing the prior parliamentary government with a semi-presidential system...
) is the French government cabinet member
French government ministers
The Cabinet of France is a body of top administration members of the Prime Minister's Cabinet. In French, the word gouvernement generally refers to the "Administration", but in a narrower sense to the Cabinet.The Council is responsible to the French National Assembly...
charged with running France's public educational system and with the supervision of agreements and authorizations for private teaching organizations.
The Ministry's headquarters is located in the 18th century Hôtel de Rochechouart on the rue de Grenelle
Grenelle
Grenelle is a neighbourhood in southwestern Paris, France. It is a part of the 15th arrondissement of the city.The area takes it name from Latin Garanella, meaning a wooded area where rabbits live...
in the 7th arrondissement of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Given that National Education is France's largest employer, and employs more than half of the French state civil servants
French Civil Service
The French Civil Service is the set of civil servants working for the French government.Not all employees of the state and public institutions or corporations are civil servants; however, the media often incorrectly equate "government employee" or "employee of a public corporation" with...
, the position is traditionally a fairly strategic one. The current minister is Luc Chatel
Luc Chatel
Luc Marie Chatel is a French politician born on August 15, 1964 in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. He has been Minister of National Education since June 2009, overseeing a difficult transition in the conditions under which new secondary teachers begin their careers...
.
History
A governmental position overseeing public education was first created in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1802. Following the various regime changes in France in the first decades of the 19th century, the position changed official status and name a number of times before the position of Minister of Public Instruction was created in 1828. For much of its history, the position was combined with that of Minister of Public Worship, who dealt with issues related to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, except in instances where the Minister of Public Instruction was a Protestant. The position has also occasionally been combined with Minister of Sports and Minister of Youth Affairs. In 1932, the office's title was changed to Minister of National Education, although it was briefly changed back in 1940-1941, and was renamed Minister of Education during the Presidency of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
(1974-1981).
See also
- List of Education Ministers of France
- Education in FranceEducation in FranceThe French educational system is highly centralized, organized, and ramified. It is divided into three different stages:* the primary education ;* secondary education ;...
- Lycée Français de PondichéryLycée Français de PondichéryThe Lycée français de Pondichéry in Pondicherry, India is one of the most important French high schools outside France and the second largest in Asia after that in Hong Kong....
External links
- France Ministry of National Education – Official website