Final answer:
Napoleon Bonaparte's educational system was characterized by the enduring principles of meritocracy and efficiency, with the establishment of secular lycées playing a central role. The Concordat with the Pope maintained religious tolerance while bolstering state power. These aspects demonstrated how Napoleon's educational reforms, reflecting revolutionary ideals, also served to consolidate state authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
In analyzing the education system established by Napoleon Bonaparte, it's observable that the foundational aspects such as the creation of lycées, which were secondary schools aimed at producing well-educated citizens for political and military roles, endured throughout his reign. These institutions implemented a secular curriculum and awarded scholarships, thus ensuring the training of an elite class of leaders and administrators. Moreover, the partnership between Napoleon and the Catholic Church, formalized through the 1801 Concordat, evidenced Napoleon's ability to intertwine religious restoration and tolerance with his administrative framework, maintaining the social contract with the church while bolstering state control.
Despite the revolutionary changes that Napoleon brought, the enduring feature of his education system was the emphasis on meritocracy and efficiency. Recognizing that an educated populace was key to a powerful and efficient state, Napoleon's system rewarded individuals based on capability and achievements, rather than birthright or class. This principle of promoting individuals based on merit remained a hallmark of his educational reforms, reflecting his commitment to some of the progressive ideals of the French Revolution, while simultaneously consolidating his own authority and that of the state.