Several months ago, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Education Minister Xavier Darcosthe director of the prestigious Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, Richard Descoings,
to suggest reforms for France's high schools. The goal is to help improve French high schools so that the public education makes French teenagers better prepared for the working world. In particular, it is aimed to help students make a better informed choice when choosing their path to university.

In order to dialogue with students, teachers and parents, Descoings took an innovative approach: launching a blog and shared video channel on YouTube. He unveiled the website www.lyceepourtous.com relying on a YouTube channel, which gives all actors a chance to contribute through text or videos.

This initiative represents a true breakthrough.

Politicians long have leveraged YouTube to conduct a dialogue with voters, during the French presidential campaign, then during the American presidential campaign, by the British Prime Minister, and even by Jordan's Queen Rania.

But I think Richard Descoing's participation on YouTube represents a new step forward. For the first time, government is allowing citizens help shape a major reform via the net. That this breakthrough is taking place in a sensitive subject such as schools seems doubly significant. It's now up to all of us us to participate.

Posted by Olivier Esper, Public Policy Manager, Paris.