Le Beau Rameau School, previously Bétharram, will undergo its first inspection since 1996 due to a scandal involving numerous allegations of abuse, including sexual assault. A report criticized the lack of oversight for private schools in France, revealing that inspections occur infrequently. The government plans to increase inspection resources, but political figures argue that measures are insufficient. Calls for a commission to investigate private school excesses reflect concerns over accountability and the safety of students in these institutions.
Inspection of Le Beau Rameau School
Le Beau Rameau, previously known as Bétharram, has not undergone an inspection since 1996. This situation is set to change during the week of March 17, as the Ministry of National Education has tasked the Bordeaux rectorate with conducting a thorough review. The move aims to address the ongoing scandal surrounding this Catholic secondary school located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. For over two decades, numerous allegations of abuse, including sexual assaults and rapes, have emerged, with 114 former students now adults coming forward to file complaints. An investigation has been initiated by the Pau public prosecutor’s office, prompting criticism in the political sphere regarding the oversight of private schools operating under state contracts.
Concerns Over Insufficient Oversight
In France, 17% of children and adolescents attend one of the 7,500 private schools operating under contract, with a striking 96% of these institutions being Catholic due to historical factors. Governed by the Debré law established in 1959, these schools enter into association contracts with the state, which allocates over eight billion euros annually for teacher salaries and operational funding. In return, these schools are required to adhere to the national curriculum, accept all students without discrimination, and honor freedom of conscience.
Although inspections are theoretically conducted by the rectorate to ensure compliance with these obligations, a report from the Court of Auditors published in June 2023 criticized the current system as grossly inadequate. The magistrates pointed out that the minister only occasionally mobilizes administrative controls in response to reported issues, which are quite rare. The report also highlighted that educational oversight is carried out ‘minimally,’ and the absence of a legally mandated inspection schedule leaves the frequency of inspections to the discretion of individual academies, often influenced by the availability of regional educational inspectors (IPR).
According to a parliamentary report released in April, which followed the controversy surrounding the prestigious Parisian high school Stanislas, the rate of inspections for private institutions is alarmingly low—once every 1,500 years. In stark contrast, public schools undergo inspections approximately ten times more frequently, leading deputies Paul Vannier (La France insoumise, LFI) and Christopher Weissberg (Renaissance) to declare that the system is ‘virtually out of control.’
In response to these findings, Nicole Belloubet, who served as the Minister of National Education, announced the deployment of 60 additional inspectors across the nation. Recently, Élisabeth Borne confirmed the enhancement of resources, stating that schools must be safe environments for all. She noted that, while inspections were previously sporadic, each academy now has a plan to ensure that 40% of institutions are inspected within a two-year timeframe.
Despite these initiatives, LFI argues that the measures remain inadequate and has called for the formation of an inquiry commission to investigate the excesses of certain private schools. Manuel Bompard expressed concern on BFMTV-RMC, stating, ‘This is a control problem. These institutions exist; we cannot end them overnight, but they are not well monitored.’
Hélène Laubignat, president of Apel and aligned with the general secretariat of Catholic education (Sgec), voiced her support for increased inspections, emphasizing the need for accountability given the public funding received by these institutions: ‘We have nothing to hide; on the contrary.’
If an inspection reveals mismanagement within an institution, the state has the authority to terminate the association contract. This was recently demonstrated in December 2023 when the Averroès Muslim high school in Lille faced contract termination due to ‘serious breaches of the fundamental principles of the Republic.’