Education: in Seine-Saint-Denis, high school students deprived of the same opportunities as in Paris
A new study reveals the extent of educational inequalities between Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris. Limited choice of specialties, lack of establishments and restricted access to excellent training: high school students from 93 are far from benefiting from the same opportunities as their Parisian neighbors.
According to a survey carried out by the Institute of Public Policies (IPP), at the request of the Youssef-Souidi high school student collective, 37% of students in Seine-Saint-Denis have access to the most requested pairs of specialties in final year, compared to 100% in Paris. A considerable gap which illustrates the profound territorial disparities of the French education system. Inequalities also concern access to preparatory classes for the grandes écoles. Only 28% of young people in Seine-Saint-Denis can join such training close to their home, compared to a majority of Parisian high school students benefiting from a denser network of prestigious establishments.
The choice of modern languages is also particularly limited. Only 3% of high school students in the department have access to Italian teaching, although this language is offered in more Parisian establishments. These restrictions can force students to travel long distances to follow the desired courses, or even to abandon certain orientations. Faced with this situation, the Youssef-Souidi collective denounces a real “break in equality” and demands additional resources for the department’s establishments.
The study also highlights the consequences of administrative decisions on school provision. For its authors and the representatives of high school students, the issue goes beyond just questions of means: it is about guaranteeing each young person the same training opportunities, regardless of their place of residence.
For those responsible for the department, these results reinforce a demand: to connect Seine-Saint-Denis to the Paris academy in order to reduce educational inequalities between the two territories.
