France's National Education system continues to face a range of challenges, from a shortage of teachers to insufficient training and deteriorating school infrastructure. Despite these issues, the baccalaureate pass rate has shown improvement, reaching 91.6% in 2025, with the general track at 96.2% for the same year. These results suggest that students are performing better academically, even amid ongoing difficulties in the education sector. A 2024 survey by the SNES-FSU, a teachers' union, found that more than half of the 893 middle and high schools surveyed had at least one teacher missing on the first day of the school year. The Senate reported that nearly 52,000 contract teachers were employed in 2024, making up 11.1% of secondary education teachers and 2.7% of primary education teachers. However, concerns have been raised about the quality of training for these contract teachers. Senator Gérard Longuet pointed out that their initial training was often "reduced to a minimum," indicating a lack of comprehensive preparation for the classroom. The Court of Audit, France's highest audit body, noted that continuing education for teachers is often treated as a "secondary mission." Teachers receive fewer training days than needed, and the available programs do not always address their specific needs. Additionally, the quality of training for those who provide teacher training is inconsistent, raising further concerns about the effectiveness of professional development in the sector. School infrastructure remains another significant issue, with many buildings poorly insulated, lacking proper solar protections, and having playgrounds without shade. The Senate highlighted financial and technical obstacles that have delayed necessary renovations, with responsibilities for maintenance and upgrades spread across communes, departments, and regions. This division of responsibility has made it difficult to address the urgent needs of school facilities. Despite these challenges, France's education spending reached 197.1 billion euros in 2024, or 6.8% of the country's GDP. However, after adjusting for inflation, the real increase in spending was only 1.4%. The Senate noted that 25.16 billion euros were allocated to the "Pensions" special allocation account, but this funding did not contribute to hiring more teachers, improving training, or renovating schools. While the "School Education" mission saw an increase in expenses of 3.87 billion euros between 2023 and 2024, excluding pensions, this increase does not translate to a real rise in per-student spending when inflation and pension contributions are considered. The continued improvement in the baccalaureate pass rate raises questions about how funding and resource allocation impact educational outcomes. While the system faces significant challenges, the academic success of students suggests that other factors may be contributing to improved results, highlighting the complex relationship between investment and performance in France's education system.