As the new academic year commenced in France this Tuesday, the government introduced several unprecedented measures, including a ban on mobile phones in primary and secondary schools and new initiatives to address sexual violence.
For the first time, France’s annual school bullying questionnaire—distributed to students since 2023—will incorporate questions about sexual violence. Students will have the option to remain anonymous when completing the form, which is scheduled for distribution in November.
In an interview with French broadcaster BFMTV on August 25, Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that approximately 10 million primary and secondary school students would complete the form, which was designed “with school staff, parents’ associations, and a committee of experts, including child psychiatrists.” The minister suggested the results could be “seismic.”
Teachers will initially collect the forms. If any responses raise concerns, school administrators will be required to intervene, either by reporting the matter to the relevant regional education authority or, in more severe cases, referring it to the justice system.
Reaction to alarming figures
This initiative follows a wave of child sexual violence scandals in France, particularly within supervised childcare services. Official figures from August 26 reveal that 203 criminal investigations are currently underway in Paris alone, addressing alleged acts of violence, including sexual violence, in schools and after-school settings.
Despite these alarming statistics, schools remain the primary venue for filing reports of child sexual abuse, averaging 80,000 reports annually, according to the education minister.
2023 estimates from the CIIVISE (the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children) indicated that approximately 160,000 children are victims of sexual violence annually in France, with 77% of this abuse occurring within the family environment. This translates to one child being raped or sexually assaulted every three minutes.
Parents’ doubts and fears about initiative
According to the education minister, the questions regarding sexual violence will be tailored to the pupils’ ages. Nevertheless, parents hold mixed views on the initiative.
Samuel Bougnat, a father of a three-year-old, views the measure as a positive step. “I believe school has a role to play in providing support and reporting potential violence, as it should serve as a sanctuary where children feel confident enough to discuss issues occurring at home.”
Another father of two young children, who chose to remain anonymous, also supported the measure: “Personally, I think it is pragmatic, given that all children attend school at some point; if there is one place where we can identify problematic and dangerous situations for children, it is there.”
“As a parent, I will closely monitor how these forms are implemented, particularly to ensure they are appropriate for younger children,” he added.
Others, such as Caroline Varas, who has a four-and-a-half-year-old son, are less convinced. “I am not entirely sure that the school should bear this responsibility alone. I believe it should be a collaborative effort involving independent parents’ associations, the local council, and the school.”
“If only the school handles this, they will cover themselves and protect their own interests. I discovered afterward that violence—though not sexual violence—had occurred in my child’s school. There is a missing intermediary between the school and parents,” she added.
Child protection organisations react with caution
Laura Morin-Baudet, head of the Paris-based anti-child-abuse non-profit L’Enfant Bleu, stated she “welcomes” the education ministry addressing child sexual violence, but also expressed practical concerns.
“It all depends on the conditions under which children answer these questions. If a child feels comfortable and believes their friend sitting next to them cannot see their answers, they might disclose something. However, if they have the slightest doubt, fear, or uncertainty about where these documents will go, we unfortunately know they will not necessarily confide.”
For Laura Morin-Baudet, alongside any such questionnaires, it remains crucial to implement prevention strategies and raise awareness in schools.
“We know that teachers and childcare professionals are severely undertrained in this area. Our organization regularly receives calls from professionals saying, ‘I have observed this and that, what can I do, how should I act?’ This highlights the urgent need for better training.”
“Sometimes signs manifest through words, but they can also be behavioral. A child might suddenly become agitated, or conversely, withdraw completely. It is at these moments that an adult’s observant gaze can interpret these signals and build a relationship of trust.”
Teachers’ unions welcome initiative but question format
According to Jean-Rémi Girard, president of the National Union of Lycées and Collèges and Schools (SNALC), “the vast majority” of teachers support the initiative.
“For us, the most important thing is that school should be a safe place for our pupils, and indeed everyone. This does not mean we will take on the role of the justice system. However, we are able to talk to pupils, observe what is happening, take an interest in their living conditions, and gather information so that we can then pass the baton to the police and the justice system.”
“Sometimes very young children are unaware of the severity of what has happened to them. The form, with its very simple questions, will not allow us to make a diagnosis, but at least to identify an initial point that requires attention.”
For her part, Béatrice Laurent, secretary of the education union UNSA Éducation, described it as a “dilemma.”
“We cannot be against a programme that allows children to report violence they may have suffered. But the immediate question is whether a written questionnaire is the correct format.”
“Our concern also relates to how these questionnaires will be processed. Is there sufficient staff within the education system to handle the reports children will make? It would be tragic for children to disclose what has happened to them and for nothing to follow.”
France’s education ministry did not respond to Euronews’ questions regarding the specific details of the questionnaire or how the justice system would intervene if the results were to be “seismic,” as the minister has suggested.
The ministry stated that work to prepare the questionnaire is underway, making it premature to provide more precise answers.
