Back to school, STI screening, pensions… Here’s what’s changing from September 1st

Many developments are expected for students, such as the automatic study of the scholarship for middle and high school students, as well as the establishment of “needs groups” for 6th and 5th grades.

Several changes await students at the start of the school year, but the list of new features is much longer. September will be marked by an increase in certain small pensions and new rules at airports. Here is everything that is changing as of this Sunday, September 1st.

Studying the stock market becomes automatic for middle and high school students

This is a measure that aims to simplify the return to school for middle and high school students. Starting this year, it is possible to agree to the automatic study of scholarship rights when registering or re-registering your child in middle or high school, announces the Ministry of National Education.

“If you have not consented to this device”scholarship applications according to the usual terms are to be made from September 1 to October 17, the ministry explains. Students registered with the CNED benefit from an additional period until October 31. Two simulators, for middle school and high school students, allow a personalized estimate of the amount of this scholarship to be established.

Level groups in middle school set up, with “flexibility”

The level groups in 6th and 5th grade, a controversial government measure, will be implemented at the start of the school year. Vilified by a large part of the educational world, they will be introduced with “flexibility and pragmatism” in the establishments, assured the resigning Minister of National Education. The level groups, renamed “needs groups” by Nicole Belloubet, aim to make “progress all students in mastering fundamental knowledge by taking better account of their diversity”the minister argued.

The start of the school year also marks the implementation of several experiments. Nearly 200 colleges will test the “digital break”, which completely bans mobile phones in establishments, before a possible generalization of this measure in January 2025. The experiment of wearing a uniform is underway in 90 establishments, including 70 schools, according to Nicole Belloubet.

A “differentiated pathway” for final year students in vocational high schools

This is one of the measures of the reform of vocational high schools wanted by Emmanuel Macron. From this back-to-school period, the school year for final-year students in vocational high schools will be reorganized for them “to better prepare for post-baccalaureate”explains the Ministry of National Education in its back-to-school circular. A “differentiated path” will be offered to them over the last six weeks of the year. They will be able to choose between a “professional integration preparation course”, haswith an additional internship in a company, and a “preparatory course for further higher education”, consisting of “intensive courses”.

Some retirement pensions are being increased

One year after the pension reform came into force, some small pensions will increase. The reform provided for an increase in the minimum contribution in order to increase the pension of retirees who have a full career, but who have had low incomes during their working life. In total, 1.7 million retirees are eligible, but only around 600,000 beneficiaries have so far received this increase. Due to the processing times to trace the careers of beneficiaries, which are sometimes complex, the Retirement Insurance had warned that payment could be made under “several months”with a payment “at the latest” as of September 1st.

At the start of the school year, the remaining 1.1 million eligible retirees will see their situation regularized. “The increase can be up to 100 euros gross maximum per month”details the website of the Retirement Insurance. But, on average it is between 50 and 60 euros, specifies to franceinfo the National Old Age Insurance Fund. In addition, the persons concerned will receive a retroactive payment of the sums due since September 1, 2023.

The withholding tax rate is readjusted

You may already be used to it. As every year in September, the withholding tax rate, which appears on your pay slip, may change. The tax authorities are likely to change it, up or down, depending on the income tax return completed in the spring. The withholding tax rate can be consulted on the impots.gouv.fr website. Under certain conditions, it is possible to request an adjustment of the rate, details the service-public website.

STI screening becomes free in the laboratory for those under 26

From Sunday, screening for hepatitis B, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea is fully covered and can be done without a prescription for those under 26. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) screening was already available free of charge in the laboratory, without a prescription, for patients of all ages. Over 26, health insurance coverage will only be 60%, but with coverage of the excess by responsible health insurance providers.

As a reminder, all patients can also already go to a free STI screening center, recalls the Health Insurance. By extending free access to laboratories, the aim is to further facilitate access to screening.

The transport of liquids in aircraft cabin baggage is once again limited to 100 ml

This is a rule that had disappeared at the beginning of the year. As of Sunday, the ban on transporting liquid containers of more than 100 ml in a cabin baggage is once again in force in all European airports. The rule had been lifted by several airports, after the installation of more efficient scanners to detect the possible presence of explosives.

But in a statement published on July 31, the European Commission reversed this decision, due to doubts about their effectiveness in systematically detecting the presence of explosives, as explained The World. European airports had until September 1 to once again ban the transport of liquids over 100 ml in cabin luggage. Liquids under 100 ml are still permitted, but must be presented during security checks. In France, the Directorate General for Civil Aviation explained to World and to BFMTV for not having waited until the September 1 deadline to ask French airports to comply.

The time limit for legal action against agricultural projects is reduced

This is one of the measures that the government had announced to respond to the anger of farmers that was strongly expressed at the beginning of the year. The decree simplifying the formalities for agricultural projects comes into force on Sunday. It reduces from four to two months the deadline for filing an appeal against projects for water storage or the construction of livestock buildings.

“When a project is good”, farmers “must be able to know it quickly in order to successfully implement it”highlighted the Minister of Agriculture who resigned in May on X. “When a project is not, they must be able to know quickly to look for alternatives”he added.