French education council rejects annual survey on gender-based violence in schools
The Conseil supérieur de l'éducation voted against a decree to introduce a yearly questionnaire on gender-based violence for students, with most members opposing it.
On Thursday, the Conseil supérieur de l'éducation held a consultative vote on a draft decree that would require schools to administer an annual questionnaire about sexist and sexual violence to students. The outcome was a unanimous rejection, with no votes in favour, a number of votes against, and many members abstaining or refusing to vote. Major unions—including the FSU, UNSA, CFDT, SNALC, SUD—and parent and student federations such as the FCPE, FAGE, and the Union étudiante expressed concern that gathering students' disclosures without assured support could constitute a second form of victimisation.
They also lamented the hurried implementation of the initiative. Despite the council’s opposition, the questionnaire is still slated to be offered to pupils from preschool through the final year of secondary education later this year, allowing respondents to choose anonymity.
Why it matters
The decision affects how French schools address and monitor gender-based violence among students.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps note criticism of the questionnaire, but left-leaning coverage stresses the risk of re-victimising students and the rushed rollout, while centrist coverage frames it as a broader political controversy and highlights the minister’s defence of the tool.
LEFT
Focuses on the potential re-victimisation of students and the hurried implementation of the survey.
CENTER
Presents the questionnaire as a controversial policy debate, noting criticism of its scope and the minister’s justification of a simpler questionnaire.
The left emphasises
- gathering students' disclosures without assured support could constitute a second form of victimisation
- lamented the hurried implementation of the initiative
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