As the new legislative term begins and the school year approaches, the non-profit association Ligue des familles is calling on Valérie Glatigny, the newly appointed Minister of Education, to not only continue but also expand the current free school supplies programme.
This initiative, launched by the French Community Government in 2019, has been instrumental in alleviating the financial burden on families by providing essential school supplies free of charge.
Since its inception, the “gratuité scolaire” programme has aimed to ensure that all students, starting from kindergarten and gradually extending to the early years of primary education, have access to basic school supplies without cost.
This initiative, which has saved parents approximately €100 per child annually, was initially introduced in kindergartens and expanded to the first and second years of primary school. Starting in 2024, it will also cover the third year of primary education.
However, the programme’s future hangs in the balance with the new MR-Les Engagés coalition now in power. The coalition’s majority agreement hints at plans to “evaluate” and potentially “adapt” the subsidy, raising concerns among supporters of the initiative.
Madeleine Guyot, managing director of the Ligue des familles, has expressed strong support for the programme and advocates for its expansion to include the fourth year of primary education.
She describes this extension as an “immediate priority” to ensure that the benefits of the programme are preserved for all primary school students. Without this extension, Guyot warns that pupils may lose access to the programme by the 2025-2026 school year.
“We’re talking about the minimum supplies needed to learn properly at school,” Guyot emphasized. “This is fundamental to giving every child the best chances. It’s also a measure that reduces the mental burden and workload for parents—most often mothers—by saving them from having to run to the shops to find every item on the back-to-school list at the best price.”
The Ligue des familles underscores that the programme represents a “minimal investment of 0.06%” on the part of the government but provides significant financial relief to families, saving them over €100 per child.
According to the league’s data, the programme has significantly reduced back-to-school expenses. For kindergarten children, the cost has been reduced to €80 per child. For students in first to third grade, the cost has fallen to between €152 and €197 per child.
However, the expenses increase significantly for students in higher grades, with costs reaching up to €300 per child from fourth to sixth grade and even higher for secondary education. In general secondary education, the average cost is €783 per child, rising to €1,102 in technical education, and up to €1,166 in vocational education.
A survey conducted by the league involving 300 families revealed that 80% of schools provided all the necessary materials through the government-funded programme. Guyot remains hopeful that as schools become more accustomed to utilizing the subsidy, this figure will continue to rise in the coming years.
The current administration’s potential reevaluation of the programme raises concerns among parents and educators alike.
The Ligue des familles argues that the programme’s continuation and expansion are not only beneficial for families but crucial for ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students. The association’s advocacy highlights the importance of maintaining and enhancing this programme to support families and uphold educational standards.
As the new government takes office, the future of the free school supplies programme remains uncertain.
The Ligue des familles’ call to action seeks to ensure that the benefits of this crucial initiative are preserved and extended, providing continued support to families and helping to reduce the financial pressures associated with back-to-school expenses.
