Éducation nationale [English translation]

My name's Moussa, I'm 10, I'm in class 2 in Epinay

The town of 93, where I grew up and where I was born

My school is nice, even if the walls aren't new

In every classroom there's lots of noise - in my class there are 29 children

There aren't many model pupils, we're a bit badly behaved

I s'ppose that we're what you'd call difficult students

In Maths I'm not that bad, but no worse than in Dictation

My favourite bit is 4pm, when I go back to the grown ups in my neighbourhood

But I like my teacher a lot. She can be strict but she's patient

And if I don't understand something, she explains, she's not a bore

She's always got lots of ideas and plans for trips

But we've only got 2 coaches, which are rented out by the council

I think that my school is poor, we don't have a computer room

We've only got the courtyard and the playground for Gymnastics

On the TV I've seen classes playing golf in P.E

Us, we've only got mats and hoops, and the distress of our teachers

So if we're all playing at school, it's time to hear the warning

Let's not allow the gap to widen on this two-tier education system

In this game of school chess, there are too many pawns between the rooks

Let's not let allow our Kings to go mad in the midst of spectacular defeat

Education in France is going wrong, and no one can deny the truth

The priority education areas are not priorities

Classes are overinflated, unlike the salaries of the teachers

And they remove the staff in schools which are already suffocating

On the contrary we need to increase teacher positions and support positions

In the most troubled neighbourhoods, create classes of 15 pupils

Create positions for assistants who help with homework

Who know the parents, and assist the students who are the most behind

Education in France is going wrong, the State doesn't invest enough money in it

A few worthless reforms, avoiding the most urgent

An educational establishment without real funding is weak

How can we make savings on the futures of our children?

Education in France is going wrong because it doesn't treat people equally

The most vulnerable are sounding the alarm, but we are ignoring their cries for help

Public schooling is going wrong because it is in deep trouble

There is no National Education, just local survival funds

So keep telling your little brothers that school is the answer

And lets give them the right tools for their futures, because, be warned

School success in certain areas may remain a mystery

And equal opportunities a Ministerial concept

So if we're all playing at school, it's time to hear the warning

Let's not allow the gap to widen on this two-tier education system

In this game of school chess, there are too many pawns between the rooks

Let's not let allow our Kings to go mad in the midst of spectacular defeat

My name's Moussa, I'm 10, I'm in class 2 in Epinay

The town of 93, where I grew up and where I was born

It's not my fault if I have less chance of getting my A'Levels

It's just because I live here that my future is a dead end.

• Artist:Grand Corps Malade