Institut de Formation à la Pédagogie Steiner
Didascali / Institute for Steiner-Waldorf Pedagogy
Sorgues/Avignon, France
332g Chemin de la Traille
84700 Sorgues (near Avignon)
Contact information:
info@didascali.org
+33 6 71 72 48 25
+33 4 90 14 98 18
Teaching language: French
Number of students: 35-50 (in two groups)
Permanent faculty: 8
Guest faculty: 15
Study programs: Weekend Program over 3 years
(36 days/260 hours residential per year)
Degrees offered:
Certificat de formation à la Pédagogie Steiner-Waldorf
Institut de Formation à la Pédagogie SteinerDidascali Institute for Steiner-Waldorf PedagogySorgues/Avignon, France. Didascali is one of two three-year Steiner-Waldorf pedagogy programs in France. Students from the program go on to work in Waldorf-related settings as kindergarten teachers, as a class and subject teachers in elementary schools, as high school teachers, or in other pedagogical situations. All classes take place at the Waldorf School of Sorgues near Avignon, a school with 230 pupils. Most regular teachers at the seminar also teach at the school, but school and seminar are independent structures. At least one-third of the classes in the program are arts classes (drawing, painting, eurythmy, theater, singing) and handwork; one-third are classes devoted to the specific theme of the weekend, and one-third are pedagogical practice courses and small study groups. The first year serves as a general introduction to Waldorf pedagogy. As of the second year, students specialize either in early childhood or childhood/adolescence. The program also involves two weeks per year of internships in Waldorf schools.
In order to teach in one of the 20-25 Waldorf schools in France - which are mostly private schools – one generally needs to have a baccalaureate and two years of further studies. Most students at Didascali, ranging in age from 22 to about 55, already have a Bachelor's or Master’s degree. Many find their way into Waldorf schools during the course of their studies. The program has an administrative status that allows some students to get financial support, but it does not (yet) have academic accreditation. In 2015-2016, Didascali organized a one-year joint program with the University of Avignon, based on Waldorf pedagogy.
The program was quite successful, but was closed down after one year for political reasons; the conditions for attaining status within the French academic landscape pose a significant challenge.
