On September 8, during an episode of the business program "Les Experts," hosted by Laure Closier on BFM Business, panelists discussed concerns about the French government's stance on public debt and the performance of French students in key academic areas. The discussion was prompted by recent results from the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests, which measure the skills of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics, and science across different countries. The results showed a decline in French students' performance in mathematics and written comprehension, raising questions about the quality of education in the country. Among the participants was Philippe Mutricy, director of studies at Bpifrance, a French organization that supports innovation and business development. Also present were Stéphanie Villers, an economist and economic advisor at PwC France and the Maghreb region, and Xavier Jaravel, deputy president of the Council of Economic Analysis, an independent body that provides economic forecasts and policy advice to the government. The panelists explored the implications of these findings and the government’s response to concerns about the growing public debt and the need for educational reform. The program, which airs Monday through Friday, covers a range of economic and business topics, offering in-depth analysis and expert opinions. It also provides a podcast version, allowing listeners to access previous episodes at their convenience. The discussion on September 8 highlighted the ongoing debate about France’s economic challenges and the role of education in shaping the country’s future. Public debt refers to the total amount of money owed by a government to creditors, both domestic and foreign. It is often expressed as a percentage of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), which measures the total value of goods and services produced in the economy. High levels of public debt can affect a country’s economic stability and limit its ability to invest in public services and infrastructure.