Joseph continued, "I intend to establish an entirely new Ministry of Science and Education to take over everything from childcare to universities, including the French Academy of Sciences."
The archbishops exchanged glances. Though they all lowered their heads, there was not much panic on their faces.
Beaumont carefully glanced at the Crown Prince and put on a remorseful expression. "I submit entirely to your disposition, Your Highness."
Over the past two years, it had become common knowledge that Church Schools had been crushed so thoroughly by the New Primary Schools that they could barely raise their heads.
After this Math Competition, the reputation of the Oratory, once representing the church's highest level of education, had been utterly ruined.
Coupled with the public's severe dissatisfaction with the slow progress of Public Childcare, the Crown Prince had more than sufficient reason to strip the church of its authority over education. In truth, Beaumont and the others had their own calculations as well.
After no longer controlling the education system, the church would lose some social influence, but it would also gain considerable benefits.
First, the church had to spend enormous sums on schools at every level each year—not merely on maintaining and repairing Church Schools. Sometimes even universities that received government funding would come to the church for money when expanding their campuses or running short of research funds.
Once the education system was handed over, the church would have to provide this money to the Ministry of Science and Education, but then the initiative would be in the church's hands. The church could simply calculate its former educational expenditures very low and allocate funds according to that standard. They would likely save more than a million Francs every year. Second, during the transfer of Church Schools to the Ministry of Science