Secularism at school: an “not acceptable” increase in teaching challenges, according to Nicole Belloubet

Europe 1 with AFP 12:44 p.m., March 15, 2024

The Minister of Education Nicole Belloubet judged on Friday "not acceptable" the increase in attacks on secularism linked to contesting the content of certain teachings, even if those linked to the wearing of signs and outfits ostensibly demonstrating belonging to a religion have decreased.

Asked about the evolution of reports of attacks on secularism at school, the Minister of Education Nicole Belloubet stressed on Franceinfo that certain figures "have increased": "What we are seeing, which is moreover worrying and which is not acceptable, it is the contestation of the content of certain teachings, whether these are teachings linked to questions of the origins of the world, questions on the teaching of religion", -she said.

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Nicole Belloubet assures that the ministry will stand alongside teachers

On this Friday marking the 20th anniversary of the 2004 law banning religious symbols in schools, Nicole Belloubet assured that the ministry would be “in support of teachers”.

“It is unthinkable that science will not be respected in what it tells us on specific points. It is unthinkable that our teachers will be challenged. We will be at their side,” she said. added.

Disputes over the content of certain teachings on the rise

Over the months of December, January and February, challenges to the content of certain lessons represent respectively 19%, 12% and 16% of the violations recorded.

Over the previous three months (September to November), they represented 4%, 9% and 16% respectively. 

On the other hand, the number of attacks on secularism resulting from the wearing of signs and outfits ostensibly demonstrating belonging to a religion "has fallen", according to the ministry.

They represented in December, January and February respectively 13%, 27% and 15% of overall attacks on secularism.

“I believe that the measure taken by Gabriel Attal around the issue of abayas marked the firm desire of the government and the minister to refuse this. And as a result, the number of attacks has fallen sharply from this point of view ", said Ms. Belloubet. 

Reports of attacks relatively stable in recent months

Overall, reports of breaches remained relatively stable over the months of December, January and February, recording 590 incidents, 280 incidents and 336 incidents respectively.

Reports of attacks on secularism at school recorded a sharp increase in September (1,034) and October (1,812), due to "exceptional phenomena" (the ban on wearing the abaya and qamis in September , attack against Dominique Bernard in Arras followed by sanctions linked to incidents during tributes), before clearly declining in November (460).