New Delhi: France’s annual school bullying questionnaire will now include questions about sexual violence, with students also able to respond anonymously and report concerns.
A week ago, French Education Minister Édouard Geffray told French broadcaster BFMTV that more than 10 million students, from primary to secondary school, will fill out the questionnaire.
Since the beginning of the year, Emmanuel Macron’s government has introduced several measures aimed at addressing problems reported in schools. The government has also banned the use of mobile phones in primary and secondary schools.
Questions on bullying and sexual violence
Since 2023, the government has circulated questionnaires on bullying in schools. The form was designed by the school staff in coordination with parents’ associations and a committee of experts, including child psychiatrists.
Geffray described the expansion of the questionnaire as a “seismic” development. The forms will be distributed in November and collected by teachers.
If a student raises concerns, the case could be reported to the relevant regional education authorities or referred to the justice system, according to Euronews.
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Parents and experts raise questions
While the measure has received support from many parents, others have raised questions about how such cases should be handled.
Speaking to Euronews, Caroline Varas, mother of a four-year-old boy, said addressing violence against children should be a collaborative effort involving schools, parents’ associations and local authorities.
“I am not entirely sure that school should be responsible for this. I think it should be collaborative work: with independent parents’ associations, the local council and the school.” She said, adding that schools might focus on protecting themselves if they were solely responsible for dealing with such cases.
“I found out afterwards that there had been violence – not sexual violence, but violence – in my child’s school. There is a missing intermediary between the school and parents,” she added.
Samuel Baougnat, father of a three-year-old, however, said the measure was a step in the right direction.
“I think school has a role to play in providing support and in reporting possible violence, because school should be a sanctuary, a place where children can feel confident enough to talk about things that may be happening at home,” he said.
Laura Morin-Baudet, who heads the Paris-based NGO L’Enfant Bleu, also welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about how practical implementation would determine its success.
“It all depends on the conditions under which children answer these questions. If the child feels comfortable, has the feeling that their friend sitting next to them cannot necessarily see their answers, then perhaps, indeed, they will end up saying something,” she said.
“But on the other hand, if they have the slightest doubt, if they are afraid, if they are unsure where these documents will go, we unfortunately know that they will not necessarily confide,” Morin-Baudet added.
She also stressed the need for awareness programmes in schools that may help children understand how and where they can seek support.
Edited by Maryam Hassan