Emmanuel Macron details the reform of the vocational high school

An envelope of one billion euros per year

For this reform, an additional billion euros per year is on the table. "We are going to put an extra billion euros a year on the vocational high school (...). We must go towards 100% professional integration", declared the head of state on Thursday, during a trip in the Bernard-Palissy technological and professional high school in Saintes (Charente-Maritime).

Investing in these establishments is "not just a reform", but "a national cause", he added.

High school students paid during their internship

From the start of the next school year, vocational high school students will receive a little money during their period in business. Today there is no compensation. Emmanuel Macron detailed it: it will be up to 50 euros per week in second class, 75 euros in first and 100 euros in terminal.

Supported by the state, this compensation "is both a measure of justice and merit", said the president. "It is to recognize that it is work that is asked of the students".

In a press release, SUD Education regretted the president's choice "to underpay students on internships with allowances ranging from 1,4 euros per hour for secondary vocational students to 2,8 euros per hour in terminal".

More internships in terminal

For the final year, which requires more "flexibility", according to the president, "the duration of the internships will be increased by 50%" for those who wish to go directly into employment. On the other hand, it does not change for the years of second and first.

The unions see it as an "easy" solution to offer "cheap labor for jobs deserted by more qualified workers".

Final year students wishing to turn to the pursuit of studies "will have 4 weeks of intensive courses", said Bruno Clément-Ziza, director of the cabinet of the Minister in charge of Vocational Education and Training, during a briefing with the press.

Redesign of the training offer

The president mentioned the closure of certain sectors of vocational high schools, with no outlet on the labor market, "because the economy and needs are changing". "We must adapt much more, from the next school year, the training map according to needs," he added.

The idea is to create new sectors, in promising sectors, such as digital or ecology. From the start of the 2023 school year, 2.600 places will be closed and 3.000 places will be open.

“The wish is to be able to accelerate this cycle of closing and opening training courses (…) which will take place until the start of the 2026 school year”, underlined Bruno Clément-Ziza.

Stronger link with the business world

Emmanuel Macron announced the establishment of "a business office in each vocational high school" to guarantee better support for students, and the arrival in these establishments of "associate professors" from the business world.

"Vocational high school training must reflect the reality of today's professional world. We must continue to create more links between the educational world and the business world, assuming that the vocational high school is a third way," he said.