FT: France’s famed meritocracy endangered by grandes écoles

An interesting story about the pioneering scheme run by Richard Descoings to promote social diversity at Sciences Po.

France’s famed meritocracy endangered by grandes écoles

By Ben Hall in Paris
Published: January 9 2010 02:00 | Last updated: January 9 2010 02:00

France’s claim to be a meritocracy is based on its revolutionary heritage. However, for Anyss Arbib, a 21-year-old Frenchman of Moroccan descent who grew up in the tough Paris suburb of Bondy, the claim looks clearly wrong these days.

“It’s a myth, of course,” he says. “We should stop being hypocritical and talking about meritocracy. There will be no meritocracy until there is equality of opportunity.”

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