FREE EDUCATION FOR FRENCH SPEAKERS WHO PASS EXAM by thinking
The French feel post-secondary education is a basic right everyone should have access to.Everyone has access to a public university, but those who can afford it can go to a private institution.
Private universities are referred to as Grandes Ecoles.
When French students graduate from high school, they receive a baccalaureate. With it, students are entitled to attend any university in the country. There is no selection process and grades do not matter. University-minded students then make a decision: Either go straight to university, or stay on and prep themselves for the rigorous exams to get into a Grande Ecole.
Tuition fees for the public system are heavily subsidized by the government and start at about 100 euros. For those who can't afford tuition, there are government scholarships. Plus, students from low-income families can have a large portion of their tuition paid for by the government.
Taxes in France are high, and the French government is strongly committed to putting money towards education. It accounts for more than 23 per cent of France's national budget -- a commitment of $8,000 to each student per year. Last year, 2.2 million students were enrolled in universities across France.
For those frustrated with the French public system, there is the option of Grandes Ecoles. They are expensive, exclusive and prestigious. Often smaller in size, they tend to specialize in one area of study. Tuition ranges from $5,000 to $19,500 a year. Students who want to attend must spend two years taking preparatory classes after receiving their baccalaureate. The classes prepare students for extremely difficult and competitive entrance exams, which cost money to take. Even then, many students do not pass them.
