Minister Gabriel Attal asks rectors “an electric shock at all levels”

Before the rectors meeting exceptionally on Monday September 18, the Minister of National Education Gabriel Attal asked for a “electroshock at all levels” in the fight against school bullying, after the death of Nicolas, a high school student from Poissy (Yvelines) who committed suicide a few days after the start of the school year, after complaining of harassment in his previous establishment.

“My role, your role, is not to protect an Institution at all costs, but to protect our students, our children at all costs”, he declared, according to comments reported by his ministry. An audit on the management of harassment cases from September 2022 to September 2023 will be launched in each academy. The conclusions are expected in four weeks. The results of the fight against harassment carried out by the rectorates will be evaluated each year.

“When there is a mistake, you must have the courage to say it and above all the courage to draw conclusions. I will not waste a second to act”added the minister, who ensures that “if there is a need for additional resources to set up dedicated and trained teams in the rectorates, responsible full time for managing harassment cases, I will provide the necessary human resources.”

The “shameful” letter from the Versailles rectorate

“I said as soon as I took office that the fight against school bullying would be the priority of the action of this ministry under my authority: I expect this priority to be shared by each and every person”continued Gabriel Attal.

In exchanges of letters between the family of Nicolas, the principal of the Poissy high school, and the Versailles rectorate, the rectorate judged “unacceptable” comments from parents who would have “challenged” the attitude of the establishment’s staff. The tone of these missives sparked strong reactions from the government on Saturday. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne described it as “shocking” and Gabriel Attal of “shame”.