[:en]How are 1st world country (France)’s living cost, education system and labour market different from Nepal?[:]

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If you are thinking to go France for travelling or studying, you should know what to expect there. We always have volunteers at CDN bringing different experiences from different countries. Here is a summary from Remi about France.

What are the Living Conditions in France?

Most of the people in France are working in the Tertiary Sector (75%) with 31% in Public Administration, Teaching, Health and Social Sector. 12,9% of the people are working in Trade like Auto/Motorcycle repair. The secondary sector is Industries (13,9%). The 5 jobs that recruit the most in France are Housekeepers, home helpers, multi-purpose kitchen staff, nursing aides (including child care), and IT and telecom (IT) occupations. The cost of living will depend very much on the region in which you live, for example in the Paris region, accommodation-related expenditure is on average 36% higher than in the other regions.

Examples of prices:

Bread : 1€

Sandwich: 5€

Cinema Ticket: 10€

Meal in a Restaurant: 13-20€

Health System

The French hospital system consists of public healthcare establishments, which provide a public health service under state control, and private healthcare establishments. For medical and dental care the reimbursement made by the Primary Health insurance fund will be based on the agreed fees. Prescription drugs are available only in a pharmacy. Over-the-counter medicines are available in pharmacies, chemists and in some large stores. Medical expenses are reimbursed at the rate of 70% of the agreed fee.

Educational System

Education is compulsory from 6 to 16 years of age. State-run schools are free of charge and secular. There are other types like private schools under contract to the state and without any contract. When students have done the compulsory school till the age of 16 they can also work instead of choosing higher education.

Lower secondary school (“college”): is for children aged 11 to 15, and covers years 6 to 3.The “Diplôme National du Brevet” is awarded at the end of lower secondary school.

Upper secondary school (“lycée”): Is for teenagers from 15 to 18 (years 2 and 1 and the final year). Upper secondary schools offer a wide variety of subjects. There are two types of school: those offering a general and technological education, ending with the Baccalauréat, and those vocational schools ending with the CAP (certificate of vocational proficiency), the BEP (vocational training certificate) or the “Baccalauréatprofessionnel” (vocational Baccalauréat).(The Baccalauréat is a qualification marking the completion of secondary education and giving access to higher education.)

After that and depend of your result and your wish, you can choose to do superior study’s like the DUT (University technological diploma) or the BTS (higher vocational training certificate).

Admission is via the Baccalauréat or the foreign qualification allowing access to university studies in the country of origin.

Job market

The legal working week is 35hours and also depend of the work you choose, some enterprises authorise supplementary hours which is majored by 10% or more if you work at night. The working day may not exceed 10 hours. Furthermore, employees may not work for more than 4½ hours without a break. All employees must be allowed a daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours (9 hours in certain cases depending on collective agreements).There are two main types of contract: permanent contracts and fixed-term contracts, and there are other types of contract like Temporary employment contract, Intermittent employment contract, Apprenticeship contract, Temporary permanent contract(This employment contract guarantees temporary employees a minimum monthly remuneration during idle periods between two assignments.) and Senior fixed-term contract.

All of this information and more can be find on those websites:

https://ec.europa.eu/eures/main.jsp?acro=living&lang=en&parentId=0&countryId=FR

http://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/2016/06/13/20002-20160613ARTFIG00283-les-cinq-chiffres-qui-dressent-le-portrait-du-marche-du-travail-en-france.php

http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2017/01/24/la-situation-des-jeunes-sur-le-marche-du-travail-reste-difficile-en-france_5067894_3224.html

http://www.strategie.gouv.fr/sites/strategie.gouv.fr/files/atoms/files/dp-insertion-professionnelle-jeunes.pdf

http://www.atlantico.fr/decryptage/cinq-metiers-qui-proposent-plus-offres-emploi-en-france-herve-solus-960485.html

No matter where you go for your study, choose the education according to your own personalities, interest, abilities and values. If you know academic and labour market information about the destination before you pack your bags it will be easier for you to live there.

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