Page 25 - Monaco Economy 131
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Bonnal, then Director of National Education.
She goes on to say: "The advantage of this
kind of learning is that it introduces pupils to
ways of solving problems that are different
from traditional school-based approaches.
It also helps pupils to acquire many of the
skills that are essential if they are to evolve © Direction de la communication
in the professional world of the 21 century:
st
building logical reasoning, being creative, Agora des Métiers
developing computer skills, communicating
and working as part of a team, developing with a vocational baccalaureate in the hotel Principality's economic fabric: with a total of
adaptability and risk-taking skills, and being and catering sector from the Lycée Rainier III 7,075 companies throughout the Principality
independent". To help understanding concepts quickly find a job in this area where there is by 2022, these skills are in high demand," says
through the manipulation of a physical object, high demand for qualified staff. Isabelle Bonnal.
educational robots have been made available Since the start of the 2021 academic year,
to pupils in primary schools: Bee-Bot for the Lycée Rainier III has also been offering an • Is this the end of the bad reputation of the
nursery schools and Smart Train for primary apprenticeship certificate in catering services former G stream, seen as a dead end for
schools. "In secondary schools, the teaching (CAP PSR), a vocational reference course those excluded from general baccalaureate
of algorithms and programming is done mainly designed to enable students to acquire the courses?
through the Scratch software, invented by the skills needed for employment in the fast-food, "The recent creation of a new vocational
Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of canteen and cafeteria sectors. People with this stream at the Lycée Rainier III, - the vocational
Technology (MIT). This royalty-free software certificate can therefore be directly employed apprenticeship certificate for catering services
enables students to develop programmes in a sector that was previously not covered by (CAP PSR) - is a sign that manual trades are
using simple commands", explains the former vocational training in Monaco. still very much in demand. The representatives
minister, pointing out that in high school, "every Outstanding graduates from the Lycée of professional organisations in the hotel
student follows a course in digital science and Technique et Hôtelier include Christian Garcia, and catering sector say that they are having
technology (NST) where they are introduced head chef at Monaco's Palace since 1987. "Luc particular difficulty recruiting qualified staff",
to programming using the Python language". Rouanet won the culinary technology teaching observes Isabelle Bonnal, who believes that
Although it's too early to say whether this competition and is now sharing his knowledge government policy "is part of the desire to
teaching has led to any vocations being with students at the Rainier III lycée, as well as enable new generations to fulfil their potential
born, "secondary school technology teachers subscribers to his "local cuisine" video channel. and find a place in society". In the collective
have noticed that pupils arrive with more At the end of 2021, Juliette Moreau, a graduate imagination, intellectual professions are
programming skills, which is the first sign of of the BTS MHR, was crowned best junior considered to be at the top of the hierarchy and
the effectiveness of this early learning policy", receptionist by the Amicale Internationale manual professions at the bottom. In such a
says Isabelle Bonnal. des Chefs de Réception," remarks the former hierarchy, where should a surgeon be placed?
Minister of Education. And a watchmaker?" asks the former minister,
• What about the Hotel and Catering industry, referring to the notion of qualifications. "The
the other major sector in Monaco? • Accountancy and management: are these higher the level of training, the greater the
122 students are studying Hospitality and courses also at the forefront of technical chances of finding a good quality, well-paid
Catering, from high school through to the education? job. That's where we need to focus all our
BTS (Advanced Technician Certificate). "The "The 'Management and Administration' efforts...".
Principality boasts a number of luxury hotels, baccalaureate, which became 'Assistance in With this approach, "the case of the former
such as the SBM group hotels and the Fairmont, the Management of Organisations and their G stream is a textbook case in terms of the
as well as gastronomic restaurants, brasseries Activities' (AGOrA) at the start of the 2020 process of changing the way it is perceived by
and snack bars", says Isabelle Bonnal. That's academic year, now has 59 students in the families. Known in France since 2012 as STMG
why the Rainier III technical and hotel college first and second years . Since the start of the (Business Administration and Technology
offers vocational baccalaureate qualifications 2023 academic year, the school has counted 41 Management), it lived through the reform of
in 'cookery' and 'marketing and catering students on the BTS accounting-gestion (CG) the baccalaureate, which came into force at
services' (CSR), as well as a technological and licence 2 and 3 accounting-management the start of the 2018 academic year. Like their
baccalaureate in science and technology diplomas, previously based at the Lycée peers in the general stream, students in the
in the hotel and catering industry (STHR). Albert I . They will be joined by 25 students technological stream take three specialities
er
"Graduates of these courses can go on to from the Support in Management Action in the first year of high school, which are
study for the two-year BTS MHR (advanced BTS (SAM) at the start of the 2024 academic reduced to two in the final year, out of which
vocational diploma) in hotel and catering year. As a result, the number of students they must choose their major: management
management to acquire the skills needed to enrolled in accounting and management or accounting. The general and technological
manage a hotel and catering business. (...) At courses is as high as that in the hotel and streams are now built on the same principles",
the end of their secondary education, students catering sector. This is a good reflection of the she adds, before pointing out that "the French
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