A concerning trend of escalating violence within French schools is prompting a national debate about safety, social factors, and the pressures facing the education system. While recent high-profile incidents, such as an assault near Jean-Giono College in Saint-Genis-Laval, have drawn significant attention, data released by the French Ministry of Education reveals a broader pattern of incidents, though overall numbers show a slight decrease.
The Ministry’s annual report on school safety for the 2024-2025 academic year indicates a marginal decline in reported “serious incidents” compared to the previous year. However, the figures remain substantial, with an average of 14 serious incidents reported per 1,000 students in middle and high schools. This contrasts sharply with a rate of 4 incidents per 1,000 students in primary schools. The intensity of school violence varies considerably by age group, with primary schools appearing more protected, though disparities exist within that level – 5 incidents per 1,000 students in elementary schools versus 3 per 1,000 in preschools.
The data reveals a particularly elevated rate of incidents in vocational high schools, reaching 20 per 1,000 students. General and technological high schools report a comparatively lower rate of 6 incidents per 1,000. Notably, the report states that 79% of primary schools and 28% of middle and high schools reported no serious incidents during the year. Despite this, educators are increasingly reporting a deterioration in the overall school climate.
Pierre Priouret, academic secretary of the Snes-FSU teachers’ union, described a growing sense of unease among colleagues. “Our colleagues report a degradation of the school climate in middle and high schools, where incidents are increasing and reaching more significant levels than in previous years, at least in terms of perception,” he stated. These incidents manifest in various forms, including disruptions, vandalism, verbal provocations towards staff, and heightened tensions between students, sometimes escalating to threats and physical altercations.
The nature of these incidents is overwhelmingly verbal. The Ministry of Education’s data shows that nearly half of all reported incidents in both primary and secondary schools involve verbal abuse. Physical violence accounts for a significant portion as well, representing 34% of incidents in primary schools and 21% in middle and high schools. Disturbingly, a notable percentage of incidents are motivated by discrimination, with one in twenty incidents in primary schools and one in ten in secondary schools linked to racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, or homophobia.
The involvement of families in incidents is also a concern, particularly in primary schools, where they are implicated in 30% of cases. This highlights the complex interplay between school environments and broader societal issues.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray acknowledged the challenges, stating, “The school does a lot, but it cannot do everything.” He emphasized the need for collective responsibility, urging parents and the community to respect the institution and its personnel, and to unite against all forms of violence.
Rémi Lasfargues of the Snuipp-FSU primary school teachers’ union echoed the sentiment that violence extends beyond the school gates. “The climate of violence exists at school, even if it is the role of teachers to have a peaceful climate in their classroom,” he noted. “There are violent parents, sometimes students, and the institution itself can also be. The school is not spared by the level of violence in society.”
However, the Direction de l’évaluation, de la prospective et de la performance (DEPP), the French agency for the evaluation of the education system, cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions from the reported decrease in incidents. The agency noted that a change in reporting patterns does not necessarily indicate a corresponding change in the actual number of incidents occurring.
The situation underscores the multifaceted nature of school violence in France, extending beyond isolated incidents to reflect broader societal tensions and challenges. While the Ministry of Education’s report provides valuable data, it also highlights the need for a comprehensive approach involving schools, families, and the wider community to address the root causes of this growing concern.
