Jean-Michel Blanquer


Jean-Michel Blanquer is a French jurist and government official serving as Minister of National Education since 17 May 2017 under Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.

Education and early career

Born in Paris, he obtained a doctor in law from Panthéon-Assas University and a master's degree in politics from Sciences Po.
From 1996 to 1998, he was a professor in civil law at Sciences Po Lille. From 1998 to 2004, he was director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the New Sorbonne University.
He divorced twice.
From 2009 to 2012, Blanquer served as the director general of secondary and junior school education under then Minister of National Education Luc Chatel. In 2013 he became president of ESSEC Business School.

Minister of National Education

On 15 May 2017, Blanquer was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron to be Minister of National Education in the first Philippe government. He retained the position on 17 June 2017 when the second Philippe government was formed, following the legislative election of 2017.
Soon after assuming the office, Blanquer announced plans to get rid of homework, preferring instead that time be set aside during the school day to do homework in school. He also overhauled the French baccalaureate and introduced free breakfasts for school children in poor neighborhoods. In June 2017, the ministry published a readjustment of elementary school programs in French and mathematics.
In December 2017, Blanquer announced that France’s education system would ban mobile devices during lunch or recess. The announcement was met with mixed responses.