The training of future teachers in France is becoming more hands-on, with new changes set to begin in the 2026 academic year. To qualify for teaching positions in the National Education system, students now must complete the M2E master's degree, which emphasizes practical experience over theoretical learning. This program is open to students at the Bac+3 level (three years of post-secondary education), a lower requirement than the previous Bac+5. The reform aims to better prepare teachers for the real classroom environment by increasing their exposure to practical teaching. Students will complete 12 weeks of internship in their first year and will teach part-time in their second year. The curriculum also includes essential cross-cutting skills like gender equality, inclusion, health, sustainable development, and media literacy. At the National Institute for Teacher Training and Education (Inspé) in Créteil, 470 students are currently in their first year of the M2E program. Despite knowing the challenges that lie ahead, their motivation remains strong. Ilona, one of the students, says, "teaching is first and foremost a passion. We want to transmit knowledge to our students." Théophile, who aspires to be a music teacher, praises the program’s practical focus. "It's great because it already gets into the concrete," he says, "so next year, we will be in charge of a class, wow!" Grégory Quinquempois, one of their trainers, appreciates the shift in focus. "Instead of preparing them for a job, we were preparing them for a competition. Now that the competition is over, we are really preparing them for a profession." He also warns students about the challenges they will face: "You need to take into account the diversity of students," he advises, "understand that they will not all move at the same pace." A significant change in the new training program is the introduction of a salary for students. Those enrolled in the M2E program are paid by the state, receiving 1,400 net euros per month in their first year as civil servant students, and 1,800 net euros per month in their second year as trainee civil servants. In return, they must commit to working at least four years in the public sector after completing the program. The Ministry of Higher Education and Research hopes this reform will help address the current recruitment crisis in the teaching profession. This year, 24,000 students were admitted to the program, a 50% increase compared to 2025. However, some unions argue that these numbers might be misleading, as the new system will run alongside the old one until June 2027. They suggest waiting a few months before assessing the real impact of the reform. Critics of the new program also point out concerns about the quality of disciplinary training and the lack of resources allocated to it. While the reform aims to modernize teacher training and improve the link between education and practice, some stakeholders believe more investment and refinement are needed to ensure its success.