Today, 97.8% of French children aged three attend kindergarten
As RFI notes, lowering the age of compulsory enrollment in educational institutions is being done for the first time since 1882. This measure will affect about 26,000 children. According to the French Ministry of Education, in the 2015-2016 school year, almost 98% of three-year-old children in the country were enrolled in preschool educational institutions.
The Elysee Palace speaks of President Emmanuel Macron's desire to achieve "real equality among students." In addition, they talk about enhancing the role of kindergartens: they should be recognized not just as a preparatory stage for primary education, but as full-fledged schools for the youngest.
According to French Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, kindergartens are "potentially the most powerful means of progress and establishing equality" available to the French educational system. The minister's words are reported by the France-Presse agency.
Until now, compulsory education in France began at age six. Violating parents face fines of up to 1,500 euros.