the school climate is deteriorating sharply with a +6% increase in referrals, according to a report by the mediator

The school climate is deteriorating sharply with an increase of +6% in referrals, or 18,500, according to the 2022 report by the National Education mediator, Catherine Becchetti-Bizot, published on Wednesday July 19. Conflicts related to daily life in schools have doubled in 6 years and the increase is “exponential“, assures the mediator. Three-quarters of the referrals come from families (pupils, parents or students): the origin of the conflicts concerns disputes over sanctions, reports of aggressive behavior, tensions between teaching teams and families, particularly in primary schools.Referrals about harassment or cyberbullying have also exploded: +69% in 2022.

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The mediator’s report also mentions a constant increase since 2017 in complaints about exams and competitions, with some students or families refusing the grade, result or ranking. For Catherine Becchetti-Bizot, the continuous control of the Baccalaureate which took an important part in obtaining the diploma, plays a role in this increase. Referrals also concern the accommodations provided for candidates with disabilities. On the other hand, the number of alerts concerning Parcoursup is tending to fall.

A quarter of reports came from establishment staff

The mediator also notes a constant increase in referrals by students enrolled in private establishments. The latter, more or less serious, more or less expensive, are sometimes vague on the type of diplomas issued and some young people regularly find themselves in trouble. This increase in referrals follows the curve of the number of these private structures, which has risen sharply. For the mediator, there is a real need for clarification; it therefore recommends a clearer legal framework by the Ministry of Higher Education. The latter is precisely working on the creation of a label, to better sort out these formations.

But complaints also come from teachers or school staff. It represents a quarter of reports and is up by +15%. These referrals relate in particular to financial issues (salary, allowances, late payment, etc.). A good part of the inquiries relate to career development, step advancement, secondments, requests for availability, or leave. Assignment and transfer procedures are also increasingly criticized, especially in colleges and high schools. Some teachers suffer from the estrangement from their loved ones. The mediator points in particular to overseas staff who have even more acute problems than in mainland France.