A pilot program is being tested in France that provides financial incentives for at risk students to attend class.
Paris, France (WiredPRNews.com) – A pilot program is being tested for disadvantaged students in France that will reward them for class attendance and maintaining good grades. As reported by TIME, the idea of providing financial incentives for obtaining an education has sparked major debate over the message such programs send to students.
Philippe Vrand, president of the Parents of Public School Students group, which opposes the measure, is quoted by TIME as stating, “We strongly oppose the idea of remunerating students for having fulfilled the basic requirement of attending school… We should spend this money making sure vocational students who wanted to learn cooking can get into those programs rather than being shunted into car repair because there was no room left. Instead, students are being paid off to compensate [for] their boredom.”
Others in support of the program however, note the success of similar programs in other parts of the world, including areas in the U.S. As noted in the report, the students who receive money as part of the pilot program will be required to spend it on school related activities or learning tools.
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