Éducation nationale

We're at the Lycée Jean Zay, in the imaginary town of Virieux- en-Vezon.
On the first day of the new school year, the teachers are already in an uproar. Following incidents the previous year, a new principal has taken charge of the school. With a growing shortage of resources and staff, a teaching reform that over-individualizes student learning and a general climate of mistrust, staff fear new outbursts.
Éducation Nationale chronicles the life of this school in the throes of change, and weaves together several narrative threads: one teacher is insulted by a student, and decides to investigate him; another experiences a disastrous inspection and loses confidence in her work, prompting her colleagues to invent a curious scheme to get teachers out of their loneliness; the principal tries at all costs to maintain serenity. As the year progresses, anger rumbles on.
The atmosphere becomes tense. Faced with the proposed budget for the coming year, the staff decide to go on strike. While they are caught off guard by unrest, a large-scale occupation movement is set up at the heart of the school.