Can you enter religious life without a high school education ?

[NadaTeTurbe]

Okay, so a friend spoke with this girl about religious life, and she was very excited, she had never heard of it before. She looked on the diocese website where the closest sister live  and want to meet them in the month. Pray for here ! 

However, this young girl doesn't have a high school diploma. In france, school is like this : 

From 11 to 14, middle school. At the end of middle school, you receive a diploma, the DNB. 
After middle school, you have the choice between 
From 14 to 18, you can go to high school. THere's a final exam, the "baccalauréat", the high school diploma, who is very important in France. Then you go to college.
Or, from 14 to 17, you can do a "CAP" to learn a manual work and then you can work. It's not being uneducated to have a CAP, but many people think this. In CAP, you learn a manual work, but there's still litterature, maths, history, geography, and philosophy.
Here, college is free, so you can go to college without the "baccalauréat" and with a "CAP". 

This girl had her DNB and was a good student, but she wanted to make bread, so she did a CAP in baking and is now a baker. She is 21, she works, and is planning to do a formation to become a pastry chief. She's very proud of her choice of life. 

Most of the religious community I know ask for a high school diploma. Do you think this young girl can enter religious life like this, or have you heard of people entering religious life without a high school diploma ? 

[Luigi]

I don't know how the orders/congregations in France would evaluate her education, but it seems to me that this young girl does have a college education. In the US, we have "technical high schools" - they sound very much the same as the cap - you learn a trade/skill and go to work after you graduate.

It would seem to me that any order/congregation/monastery would love to have a skilled/professional baker of bread and pastries. See  the thread on convent cakes

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

If a person could go on to college/university with a CAP that sure sounds like the equivalent of a high school diploma to me.

Since the educational system in France is different than the U.S., do Communities even use the term "high school diploma?"

As usual, this woman will never know unless she asks the specific Community she is interested in.

[NadaTeTurbe]

Of course, I was just curious about it, this women will live her own life  

Well, I have read on french website "having the baccalauréat". However, the worth of the "bac" is often overestimated. 

I googled and it seems that in fact, you need some kind of equivalence to go to college with a CAP, but it's not impossible/may depends on the college. 

I understand things may vary by congregations, but does the Church have an official rule about it ? Or have you met a nun with a technical formations ? 

And I don't doubt that any congregations will be very happy to welcome a baker. 

[TheresaThoma]

This is what Canon Law says about admission to the novitiate.

"Can. 641 The right to admit candidates to the novitiate belongs to major superiors according to the norm of proper law.

Can. 642 With vigilant care, superiors are only to admit those who, besides the required age, have the health, suitable character, and sufficient qualities of maturity to embrace the proper life of the institute. This health, character, and maturity are to be verified even by using experts, if necessary, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 220."

I don't know really anything at all about the French education system, so I don't know what the equivalent of an American High School diploma would be. From what you have described though I don't think it would be an impediment for your friend.