Attacks on secularism at school: twice as many reports in October

Europe 1 with AFP 10:52 p.m., November 09, 2022

The Ministry of Education recorded 720 reports in October for attacks on secularism, a figure more than doubled compared to September, with still a high proportion of incidents linked to the wearing of religious outfits, he announced on Wednesday. .

In September, 313 incidents had been recorded in schools, colleges and high schools.

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A monthly publication of figures since the start of the school year

These figures were previously communicated quarterly, but their publication has moved to a monthly rhythm since the start of the school year, at the request of the Minister of Education Pap Ndiaye, who has promised "transparency" on these worrying subjects.

A total of 627 incidents were recorded in the first quarter of 2022 (December to March) and 904 in the second quarter (April to July 2021).

A note from the state services pointed out in mid-October the "multiplication" of attacks on secularism.

It supplemented an alert already issued at the end of August, which accused the "Islamist movement" of questioning "the principle of secularism at school" by relying on social networks, in particular Twitter or TikTok.

The "three explanations" of Pap Ndiaye

Pap Ndiaye gave "three explanations" for this sharp rise, in the

program on TMC: the virality of TikTok videos, "the anniversary of the assassination of Samuel Paty", the history and geography professor beheaded on 16 October 2020 by a radicalized young person, and the fact that we "very strongly encourage the heads of establishments to report all reports".

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In detail, 40% of the incidents recorded in October are for "wearing religious signs and outfits", against 54% in September, the ministry said in a press release.

They concern "mainly the spaces and times of activities outside the classroom".

Then come verbal provocations (14%, against 5% in September), protests against education (12%, against 7%), refusal of republican values ​​(9%, against 2%), community demands (6% , against 7%), refusal of school activity (5%, against 7%).

The secularism plan in four axes

The majority of incidents took place in October in colleges (52%, against 36% in September) and 37% in high schools (against 51% in September).

Faced with this increase in reports, the ministry sent Wednesday to the rectors of academy a circular, which will be published Thursday in the Official Bulletin.

It provides for a "four-pronged plan" to better protect the educational community: "systematically and gradually punish the behavior of students that undermines secularism when it persists after a phase of dialogue", "strengthen the protection and support to staff", "support the heads of establishments in the event of an attack", "reinforce the training of staff and in the first place that of heads of establishments".

Several management staff unions had asked in recent weeks for "clear instructions" to enforce the principle of secularism in schools.

When a headteacher has to "engage in a disciplinary procedure" which can "prove to be delicate" and decides to convene the disciplinary council, he can "relocate" it to "another establishment or a departmental service of the 'National Education' if the circumstances so require, indicates this circular, of which AFP obtained a copy.