Being a teacher in france

Abstract

Teacher formation in France has been in a constant state of transforma-tion since its beginning in 1684. A series of laws has defined and still defines the regulations in this field. There are no entrance exams or filters for those who choose to become teachers, but those who enter the profession must possess ten essential competences, regardless of the age of the students they teach or the type of school. These competences, which are defined in detail by the Ministry of Education, must be in existence by the time of the state examination and are constantly monitored by the inspectors and school principals during the period of the professional care-er. Overload and low salaries make the teaching profession unattractive for young people, with few applicants and an increasing number of vacancies. According to students' performance in international assessments, French learners usually tend to perform in the middle of the rankings, which has led to many criticisms of tea-chers, teacher training and the education system.