Education

• Updated : 31/03/2022

This page explains the key principles of the education system of France.

• Welcoming Ukrainian children, students and teachers
• Education systems in France
• Characteristics and practical modalities of national education in France: registration, meals, nursery, pre-school, primary school, middle school, high school, higher education, disability, athletes

The policy of the French government can be summarized as follows :

• An official guide presenting the French education system in French and Ukrainian has been published by the French Ministry of National Education [PDF].
• Before the war, there were no Ukrainian high schools in France
• Children under 3 years old: Children up to three years old can be cared for in a crèche located near you. For an emergency reception of your child, you must ask the establishment directly. They will answer according to their possibilities. For a more permanent reception, the steps are to be taken with the town hall of your place of accommodation. [Source: gouvernement.fr]
• Children from 3 to 10 years old: Ukrainian children can be registered in maternelle and primary school immediately with the city of your place of accommodation [Source: education.gouv.fr].
• Children from 11 to 18 years old: You must contact directly either:
  • The “collège” [middle school] (11-15 years old) or “lycée” [high school] (16-18 years old) closest to your place of accommodation
  • The national education services in the Département of your place of accommodation (DSDEN: direction of the services of national education for the département).
  • French and mathematics tests are planned before Ukrainian children join the regular classes in a French school.
  • They will benefit from reinforced French language courses known as “FLE” (Français Langue Etrangère) within "allophone" units.
  • For young people aged 16 to 18, who were not or do not want to go to school, the DSDEN will support them in finding a job or vocational training.
  • [Source:education.gouv.fr].

• If you are a student benefiting from temporary protection, you can apply for registration in French higher education by contacting the Campus France agency at the following address: ukraine@campusfrance.org
• After completing a form, the establishments will contact you to offer you lessons adapted to your situation and consider your registration as of this academic year.
• You will also be oriented for your registration in an establishment for the next academic year.
• Once admitted to an establishment, you can take your steps directly with the regional center for university and school works (CROUS) in the region of the establishment. The CROUS is in charge of university accommodation and scholarships. You can send your file by logging on to the portal Mes services étudiant.
• [Source: gouvernement.fr]

• You can contact the rectorate of your place of accommodation if you wish to work in schools, if:
  • you are a teacher for the Ukrainian Ministry of National Education, in primary or secondary school,
  • or you have a title or diploma with at least two years of university studies.
• [Source and contact map: Page "reception and schooling of Ukrainian children" of the Ministry of National Education]

In France, education is compulsory for girls and boys aged 3 to 16.

Any young person between the ages of 16 and 18 without school, training or employment is supported in finding solutions to return to school or access to qualifications or employment.

France has several education systems:

• A very good free public school system in towns and cities.
• A very good private school system, working with contracts with the ministry of education. They are faith based (catholic, jewish, muslim, protestants).
• Some private school without contract with the ministry of education. You should be well informed before enrolling your child in such school.
• Homeschooling (“Instruction en famille”) is possible but regulated and supervised. Important legal changes have been published in February 2022 .
• Remote education (“par correspondance”) is possible in some cases (e.g. children with health challenges, young athletes).

Under law, France prohibits discriminations between the public system and the faith based system.

France is very strict on “laïcité”, faith neutrality in public schools. Children are not allowed to wear some obvious religious signs in public schools.

Under french law, the diplomas have the same national validity and requirements. Yet, some schools are known to be better or more prestigious than others.

The french grades go from 0 to 20. 20 is the best grade.

The french system is known to be selective, with an bias toward selection based on maths grades. This emphasis has been somewhat diminished in recent years.

It is recommended to verify the information with the city and parents' organizations (FCPE and PEEP in public schools, UNAAPE and APEL in private schools).

• The registration of children for school is mandatory in France.
• Normal school year starts in September until July.

• Children can eat lunch in schools.
• You have to pay under normal conditions, but the CCAS will help you to pay it if you are not able to pay.

• Women often work in France.
• Infants and toddler often go during to crèche (nurseries) working hours.
• Nurseries are very safe and treat children with respect.
• In most cases, you bring them in the morning and pick them in the afternoon.
• The crèche system is organized by municipalities, employers, private companies or non-profit organizations. In some areas, there are long waiting lists so that it is important to enroll at birth.
• Many parents use the services of “assistante maternelles” (licensed childminder). These professional work as an individual or as a group. They have to be licensed and are allowed to take care of a limited number of children.
• The costs of both types of services maybe be subsidized by the family fund (CAF). You have to ask CAF about it.
• Vaccination is mandatory.
• Licensed childminder commonly accept older children for after-school periods or days without school (Wednesdays).

• Toddlers go to pre-school until age 6.
• The registration and informations are performed at the city hall or the nearest school.
• Maternelle school is usually 8:30 to 16:30.
• Children sleep after lunch.
• Children are expected to be potty trained (except if disabled) and fully vaccinated.
• Children don't go to school on Wednesdays.

• Kids go to primary school in CP, CE1, CE2, CM1 and CM2 classes.
• The registration and informtions are performed at the city hall or the nearest school.
• Primary school is usually 8:30 to 16:30.
• Parents have to bring and pick up kids in school.
• Children don't go to school on Wednesdays. They are typically enrolled in sports, social and leisure activities.

• The information and registration are done at the nearest secondary school “Collège”
• Children go to collège in 6ème, 5ème, 4ème and 3ème classes.
• Most children eat lunch in school
• Typical time schedule is 8:00 to 17:00
• The final year of Collège is 3ème. They take the “Brevet” exam
• In cities, parents can bring and pick up kids in school. Teenagers can be allowed to come and leave alone with parents' approval.
• In villages, free buses are organized to travel to/from collège in the nearest city (usually a 15 minutes drive).
• Some collèges are organized as boarding schools where kids stay the entire week.
• Children don't go to secondary school on Wednesday afternoons. They are typically enrolled in sports, social and leisure activities.

• “Orientation” is performed in the last year of secondary school to one of the high school systems.
• The information and registration are done at the nearest high school “Lycée”
• Typical time schedule is 8:00 to 18:00
• Lycée has seconde, 1ère and Terminale
• LYCEE GENERAL is high school for regular litterature, science or economics studies. These high schools can be competitive.
• LYCEE TECHNIQUE is high school with a technical orientation (e.g. engineering).
• LYCEE AGRICOLE is high school dedicated to life sciences and agriculture
• LYCEE PROFESSIONNEL is high school for teenagers who often have school difficulties and want to learn jobs directly.
• APPRENTISSAGE is for teenagers who want to start working in a company directly and get professional education. They receive some money in return.
• The final year of high school is Terminale. They take the BACCALAUREAT exam.
• In cities, parents can bring and pick up kids in school. Teenagers can be allowed to come and leave alone with parents' approval.
• In villages, free buses are organized to travel to/from high schools in the nearest city (usually a 15-30 minutes drive).
• Some lycées are organized as boarding schools where kids stay the entire week.
• Teens don't go to high school on Wednesday afternoons. They are typically enrolled in sports, social and leisure activities.

• The allocation to a higher education school and a university is performed through an online selection system in the last year of high school.
• UNIVERSITE are public universities. Their cost is a couple hundre euros in tuition per year. Any student who obtained the BACCALAUREAT diploma can study there. Three levels : Licence (3 years), Master (2 additional years) and Doctorate (PhD). In particular, university is where doctors and pharmacists are trained.
• BTS/IUT/IUP are professional oriented higher education. 2 to 3 years of education and some internship in companies.
• CLASSE PREPARATOIRE is preparatory class in a high school. They prepare to the exams to enter the prestigious schools.
• ECOLE D'INGENIEUR are public or private schools for engineering studies. Cost varies greatly as well as their quality.
• ECOLE DE COMMERCE are public or private school for business studies. Cost varies greatly as well as their quality.
• IFSI are public nurse and nurse assistant training school.
• ECOLE VETERINAIRE are schools to become veterinarians. It requires a classe préparatoire before.
• There are some other additional systems.
• Depending on the family financial situation, higher education students may obtain housing and a monthly allowance to cover part of their education costs and living expenses.

• Children with disabilities are accepted in school. By law, they should be registered with the nearest school.
• If needed, you should file to obtain a support worker provided by the local authorities. The support worker will attend classes with the child to help him or her do the work, take notes or with personal hygiene, feeding issues.
• Some kids with disabilities are going to special classes in school settings (ULIS, CLIS, SEGPA classes).
• Some children with disabilities go to segregated institutions (IME, IME PRO). Refuse such orientation whenever possible.
• Be sure to get good information from non-profit organizations. France has a reputation of bias toward institutionalization.
• Beware when dealing with organizations in charge of kids protections PROTECTION MATERNELLE INFANTILE (PMI) or foster care AIDE SOCIALE A L'ENFANCE (ASE). The value of their advice and services vary greatly. Consult disability oriented non-profit organizations to confirm that the practices are good.

• France has a system in place to detect and train sport talents.
• Children will go part-time to a public school and practice their sport part-time with national or regional trainers.
• They will compete on week-ends.
• Some sports have dedicated classes in regular schools or offer sport oriented boarding schools.
• Some sports have dedicated regional and national facilities.
• Under normal circumstances, foreigners can be trained by the French system. We often do it for african countries.
• National level champions are trained at the INSEP which is a national center. INSEP is olympic level preparation.
• Depending on the family financial situation, these children may obtain housing and a monthly allowance to cover part of their education costs and living expenses.