2023-09-22 18:18:00
Students who graduate from the Latin and/or Greek sections have a greater chance of succeeding in their studies than others. This is what the latest success statistics in Flemish higher education show. 61% of students graduating in Greek and 53% of students graduating in Latin obtained their baccalaureate within three years.
The difference with other courses is striking: graduates from economics, modern languages and human sciences have a first-year success rate of barely 20%.
Forgotten, Latin and Greek?
These results do not surprise Fabienne Penninckx, professor of Latin and Greek at the Athénée Fernand Blum (Schaerbeek).
“Studying Latin and Greek is useful for future students but not only. The difference is especially noticeable in terms of mastery of the language. University professors are finding more and more often that students do not fully understand the instructions and have difficulty expressing themselves in their responses or that they lack nuance. For that, learning Latin and Greek is really useful,” she explains.
But the advantages linked to learning these two languages cruelly presented as dead do not stop there. “Latin and Greek lessons also teach critical thinking, philosophy, the birth of democracy and our current way of thinking,” emphasizes the teacher.
“We must stop saying that all students who no longer want school have a place in the qualification”
Despite these numerous attractions, the Latin-Greek section struggles to attract new generations of students.
“This year, we had to group the fifth and sixth secondary students in the same class because there were not enough of them. Fewer and fewer schools offer a Latin-Greek option and even for Latin, it is becoming complicated to attract students. We have the impression that parents no longer want their children to choose anything other than scientific or computer science options for fear that they will not be able to access employment otherwise.” observes Didier Mazairac, prefect of studies at the Athénée Fernand Blum.
Note that the Pact for Teaching Excellence plans to make Latin compulsory in secondary school until the third year. From 2027, all second and third secondary students will have four hours of French and two hours of Latin per week.
1695414147
#proven #students #graduate #Latin #andor #Greek #sections #succeed #studies
