The French national education system is a centralized system that provides education from preschool through higher education. It is divided into several stages: école maternelle (preschool), école élémentaire (elementary school), collège (middle school), and lycée (high school). Education is compulsory for children aged 3 to 16, and the curriculum is standardized across the country. The system is overseen by the Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, which sets national policies and guidelines. Students take national exams, such as the baccalauréat, at the end of high school to qualify for university admission. The focus is on academic achievement and equal access to education for all.