France delays school reforms as birth rate drops

Millions of French pupils have already settled into new classrooms, but the start of the 2024 school year isn’t smooth sailing. France’s “rentrée” is facing fresh hurdles: strict phone bans, rising worries over sexual abuse in schools, pay disputes among teachers, and a shrinking student population driven by falling birth rates. Education minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra admitted in an interview that the system is under “real strain,” with 161,000 fewer students enrolled this year compared to five years ago.

The back-to-school drama reflects deeper national pressures. France’s birth rate has dropped below replacement level for years, cutting school rolls and forcing closures of small rural schools. Meanwhile, reports of sexual violence in schools have surged, prompting the education ministry to launch nation-wide awareness campaigns. Teachers, meanwhile, have been striking over pay freezes and pension reforms, adding to classroom instability. The government insists it’s addressing the issues, but critics say reforms are too slow.

Education officials confirm that 90% of high schools will now enforce phone bans during lessons, following a national law passed in July. Schools in Paris and Lyon have already reported higher compliance this week. Teachers’ unions, however, warn that the ban alone won’t fix underfunding or overcrowded classes. The government has pledged €2 billion in extra funding by 2027, but unions say that’s not nearly enough to reverse years of cuts.

Looking ahead, the education ministry plans to open 12,000 new nursery places by 2027 to counter the birth rate decline, while rolling out stricter safeguarding rules in schools. But with classrooms shrinking and budgets tight, the challenges are far from over. The next academic year could bring more protests, policy pivots, or both.