Towards a “privatization” of support for students with disabilities in schools?

Nathanael is 13 years old. He has an autistic disorder. For 3 weeks, this 5th grader can no longer attend college. It is his mother who teaches at home. “VSa revolts me because the college cannot accommodate him, because there are no human means, because it is not livable for him to remain without accompaniment and that he needs this accompaniment- the”, she laments.

This support is an AESH, a support for students with disabilities. A person present in class, full time, alongside Nathanaël. The AESH accompanies him, helps him, so that he does not drop out and can follow the lessons like any other student.

The problem is that his AESH is on sick leave and not replaced. “I’m angry because it’s not my role to have to do Nathanael’s homework, it’s not my role to have to watch my children“, adds his mother.

Nathaniel is not the only one in this case. In this new school year, half of the AESH would be missing, just in the department of Val-de-Marne. A group of parents denounces “the silence of the rectorate” and calls on the families concerned to take legal action.

Amandine Bugnicourt, spokesperson for the “Parents du 94” collective, says: “Today, these parents face impediments from the administration, which does not offer them a solution. It creates dissociated families, who have no income. It’s sad and revolting.”

I regret that the reception of children with disabilities at school is too often tinkered with

Claire Hédon, Defender of Rights

Seized by a large number of parents (in 2021 complaints represented nearly 20% of referrals in the field of children’s rights), the Defender of Rights, Claire Hédon, published a report last August calling for better adaptation of the school to the needs of students with disabilities: “JI regret that the reception of children with disabilities at school is too often tinkered with and that the methods of their schooling are still unsuitable. This contributes to escalating situations and pushing children further away from school, rather than including them.”

“We can never be 100% satisfied with notifications. I do not know if we can speak of fault but it is clear that in certain parts of the department, we have AESH who will find employment elsewhere and who leave us. Who sometimes leave us overnight. It is complicated.“, admits Anne-Marie Bazzo, academic director of Val-de-Marne.

A precarious job, often part-time for an average salary of €800 per month. Under the poverty line. Which, no doubt, explains the shortage of support for students with disabilities, forcing some parents to hire their own AESH.

“My daughter is 7 years old and does not have AESH. I would like to know if there are private AESH in Isère?“.”How do you finance private AESH?“On social networks, announcements of families looking for a solution are flourishing.

We make up for shortcomings, we have no choice

Stephanie Valentini, Cap Handi Cap

The so-called “private” AESH: accompanying persons recruited and paid by the parents themselves to work in public colleges and high schools. Some associations that help the families concerned in their research say they are overwhelmed with requests. Stéphanie Valentini, president of the Cap Handi Cap association confirms this: “The demand increases by 50% every year. As National Education can no longer provide [d’AESH publics], parents have no choice but to turn to the private sector and for those who cannot afford it, the kids are unfortunately not accompanied. We make up for shortcomings, we have no choice”.

Contacted, the National Education admits allowing the access of private accompanying persons in the classes but with the express agreement of the head of the establishment. She also recalls having recruited 4,000 additional AESH this year, in addition to the 128,000 already in post (read answer in appendix).

– 410,000 children with disabilities cared for in an ordinary environment This year, versus 320,000 in 2017 (+19% in 5 years), according to the Ministry of National Education.

– 67,000 students educated in hospitals or medico-social establishments in 2022, according to the Ministry of National Education.

– In total there are 132,000 AESH, including 4,000 additional at the start of the 2022 school year (+35% in five years), according to the ministry responsible for people with disabilities..

– The status of AESH, paid by National Education, has been improved in recent years but they still work part-time with salaries around 800 euros per month (for a contract of 24 hours a week on average).

– Alone 6 to 7% of children benefiting from an AESH in class also benefit on extracurricular timeessentially on the meridian break, according to the Ministry of Persons with Disabilities.

– Accompanying students with disabilities: the National Education file

– Article D351-20-1 of the Education Code

– The report of the Defender of Rights on human support for students with disabilities (08/29/2022)

– The status of “private” companion denounced by LFI deputy François Ruffin in the National Assembly (21/01/2022)

– Privatization of accompanying persons for students with disabilities: the written question of Laurence Cohen, Senator CRCE, published in the JO Senate of 07/04/2022

– The response of the Ministry of Education on the use of private accompanying persons (13/10/2022):