Foundation Year: A special new year at Jules-Garnier Lycée Grande Ecole

It is well known that entrance exams to the Grandes Ecoles are particularly complex for students in New Caledonia, who must take them in an explosive social context.

We must urgently find solutions for these students. Some, for example, have had to lock themselves in a hotel in Doucos to take their competitive exams. This is the case of the son of Sandrine, a resident of Mondor. “It was a very stressful five days with all these students in the hotel. We didn’t have much information. The hotel had police surveillance, so there was no worry at night because the games were at night.”

They stopped the fire while on vigil.

François Médevielle, Jules-Garnier Foundation Year Coordinator

Other students are also welcomed and offered exceptional conditions at the Lycée Jules Garnier boarding school, according to François Médevielle, the coordinator of these preparatory classes. “They stayed at the high school for more than three weeks until their oral exams, and then travelled to mainland France to stop the fire during their night patrol, which was remarkable because they were involved in the life of the high school during that time. A real tribute to the students’ work, their mental strength, because it was really complicated.

Two months later, the worry has been replaced by relief and pride. Almost all students are able to attend school. This is enough to make people full of hope for 2025. “If we can achieve results like this in these conditions, I think next year, there’s no reason why things can’t go well.” Francois Medevielle hopes.

It remains to be seen whether the preparatory classes will still welcome so many students in the face of such a large loss of students. Director Jules-Garnier ensures that teachers and management will respond in any case.