French President Nicolas Sarkozy outlined a plan for the country's educational reform in front of representatives of high school teachers and students in a speech at his Elysee Palace on Tuesday.

The president suggested that students have more choices of subjects which are more closely connected with exams of graduation, because according to the government, a significant number of pupils who can't graduate fully qualified drop out of school per year.

Foreign language study was stressed by Sarkozy. He said French students needed to become at least bilingual or trilingual, so the curriculums should put more emphasis on speaking and understanding rather than grammar teaching.

The science curriculum should include more contents on modern technology, the president said, adding that promoting vocational trainings and personalized tutorship for pupils were also on agenda.

Education reform is a major part of Sarkozy's interior reform, but it encountered fierce opposition last year and early this year. Rounds of demonstrations forced the government to shelve the plan.

To avoid a similar chaos, Sarkozy promised that individual schools would have a certain amount of leeway in how to implement the changes.

Also on Tuesday, Sarkozy visited a high school in the province of Val-de-Marne, in southeast of Paris along with Education Minister Luc Chatel, to begin his explanation of the reform initiative to local teachers and students

Chatel will carry on the lobbying and explanation mission to schools across France by this December, Sarkozy said in his speech.

(www.eduwo.com, Jainlyn&Charlotte)