France to Move Exams Out of Hot Afternoons Due to Climate Change

France's Minister of Education, Édouard Geffray, has declared that afternoon sessions for end-of-year examinations, such as the baccalauréat, will be discontinued in the future. This significant policy shift is a direct response to the accelerating impacts of climate change and the growing frequency of intense heatwaves across the country.

Speaking on France Inter on Sunday, Geffray stated, "It is no longer possible to organize end-of-year exams between 2 PM and 6 PM." He elaborated that while morning hours, particularly after ventilating rooms beforehand, remain relatively cool, the afternoon period in May and June has become untenable due to rising temperatures.

“

It is no longer possible to organize end-of-year exams between 2 PM and 6 PM.

The minister's announcement follows recent examination periods where students have had to contend with high temperatures during crucial assessments. This year's baccalauréat exams, including French and mathematics for first-year students and philosophy for final-year students, are scheduled to take place in the morning, concluding by noon.

France is bracing for another episode of significant heat, with temperatures expected to exceed 35°C (95°F) across much of the country this week. This anticipated heatwave marks the second such event before the official start of summer, highlighting the urgent need for adaptive measures in the education system and beyond.

“

We can no longer afford to have exams today in May or June, (...) between 2 PM and 6 PM, it's not possible.