French Education Minister Édouard Geffray said he wants to prohibit Baccalauréat and Brevet exams from taking place in the afternoon during May and June.
The proposal addresses the increasing risk of heatwaves in France. By shifting exam schedules, the government aims to protect students from health risks associated with extreme temperatures and ensure that candidates can work under acceptable conditions.
Geffray said the announcement on June 14, 2024 [2]. The move comes as 530,000 students in general and technological tracks begin their Baccalauréat exams this week with the philosophy paper [1].
The minister said, "plus aucun examen ne se déroule l'après-midi" [3]. This shift would apply to both the brevet, taken by middle school students, and the baccalauréat, the national diploma for high school students.
Officials said the decision is a response to predicted high temperatures across the country. The goal is to eliminate the physical and mental strain caused by heat during the most critical hours of the day.
While the Baccalauréat remains a cornerstone of the French education system, the timing of these exams has historically coincided with the onset of summer heat. The proposed change would fundamentally alter the scheduling of national assessments to prioritize student safety over traditional academic calendars.
“"plus aucun examen ne se déroule l'après-midi"”
This policy shift reflects a growing necessity for European nations to adapt public infrastructure and institutional schedules to climate change. By modifying the timing of national exams, France is acknowledging that extreme heat is no longer an occasional anomaly but a systemic risk to public health and educational equity.
