An English teacher in France was arrested on Tuesday, 9 May, after burning his students’ Baccalauréat examinations. Victor Immordino set the papers alight outside his lycée professionnel school in Paris.
In a video taken by Immordino, he says “My aim was to start a public debate,” as he torches 63 completed papers. “In three years, I’ve seen there’s no point in what we do … we see students who have spent seven years in this system and can’t even string two words [of English] together.” He claims a third of his pupils handed in a blank paper, and only some had come close to passing.
The extreme reaction is said to be in protest of an “out of date” Baccalauréat; according to The Times, France’s “under-performing” education system is failing students who leave school unable to hold basic conversation in English.
Immordino faces up to 10 years in prison and a $160,000 fine. He will stand trial in October for “destruction of property by dangerous means.”
This shocking event comes just a week after President Macron announced plans of reform to the lycée professionnel, including new courses and cash incentives for students.
