School timetable reform delayed

PLANS TO REINTRODUCE 4.5 DAYS OF SCHOOLING WILL BE ROLLED OUT OVER TWO YEARS SAYS PRESIDENT REFORM of the school teaching timetable will be rolled out over two years, President Hollande has

announced. “Communes who want to take part in these reforms in 2013 will be able to,” said the president. “And the others can take the time necessary so that we can, together, apply this

reform.” The Association des Maires de France (AMF) has approved the reform but had raised concerns about organising extra-curricular activities and funding for the increasing number of

school days planned by the government. The AMF says plans to increase the length of the school day and the number of school days will costs 600 million euros. Hollande told the AMF meeting

that a fund of 250 million euros would be set aside for the 2013 _rentrée_ (new school year) for the communes that introduced the reforms. The government ultimately wants to move to a

"seven weeks school, two weeks break" proposed by the Conseil Supérieur de l'Education and the parents' body FCPE. The return to 4.5 days of schooling is to reduce the

length of school days which have been criticised as too long by parents and teachers since they were introduced in 2008, when the school week was cut to four days. Local authorities will be

able to choose whether the extra half day lands on a Wednesday or Saturday. See also: STORY:Major changes for schools STORY:Summer holidays may lose 2 weeks STORY:School holidays set for

change