In response to recent violence in private schools, Minister Elisabeth Borne has launched the initiative *’Breaking the Silence, Acting Together,’* aimed at eliminating moral, physical, and sexual violence in contract-based institutions. A significant part of this effort is the ‘Faits établissement’ application, which facilitates reporting serious incidents. Borne emphasizes the importance of utilizing this tool to amplify victims’ voices and enhance oversight, ultimately promoting a safer educational environment.
New Measures to Combat Violence in Private Schools
In response to the troubling events surrounding the Bétharram affair, Minister of National Education, Elisabeth Borne, has initiated a bold new plan called *’Breaking the Silence, Acting Together.’* This initiative aims to eradicate instances of moral, physical, and sexual violence within private educational institutions that operate under a contract, including establishments like Notre-Dame de Bétharram. A key component of this strategy is the implementation of the application ‘Faits établissement,’ which has already been adopted in public schools.
Introducing the ‘Faits établissement’ Reporting System
During a recent announcement detailing this comprehensive plan, the ministry emphasized the forthcoming *’mandatory reporting system for violence incidents in private institutions under contract,’* which will be formalized by an upcoming decree. The application ‘Faits établissement’ is designed to facilitate the reporting of various sensitive incidents, ensuring that serious cases reach the ministry level. Until the decree is issued, private institutions are encouraged to start utilizing this application, which the ministry will make readily available.
In an interview with *Le Parisien,* Elisabeth Borne expressed her surprise at the low usage rates of this application. She pointed out that the Secretary General of Catholic Education’s claim that all violence reports were managed internally by private institutions was misleading. *’I want to ensure that the application ‘Faits établissement’ is deployed across private institutions,’* she affirmed.
Since its inception in 2016, this application has served the public sector by enhancing the management and comprehension of serious incidents within schools. When a significant incident occurs, the school’s principal or head administrator logs into the application to document all pertinent details. Various types of incidents can be reported, including violations of Republic values, individual safety breaches, security threats, institutional climate issues, and property damages.
Each reported incident is assigned a severity level: concerning, serious, or extremely serious. The response protocol varies based on the incident’s classification. For example, concerning incidents remain within the institution, while serious and extremely serious cases are escalated to authorized personnel within the relevant academic bodies. This structure empowers the ministry’s central administration to gather critical data for developing long-term prevention strategies for the most severe incidents.
Elisabeth Borne believes this application is vital for amplifying the voices of victims and ensuring that incidents are formally reported. *’We are experiencing a kind of #MeToo movement in schools. The voices are being liberated, but we must actively seek out these stories,’* she remarked. This plan aims to bolster oversight in private institutions and ensure that incidents of violence are consistently reported, ultimately fostering a safer educational environment.