As the new legislative term commences and the start of the school year approaches, the non-profit association Ligue des familles (League of Families) is calling on the new Minister of Education Valérie Glatigny (MR) to continue and expand the current free school supplies programme.
Since 2019, the French Community Government has each year allocated several million euros to schools to purchase basic school supplies such as pencils, markers, and notebooks. These materials are distributed to students free of charge.
This so-called “free schooling programme” (gratuité scolaire) was first introduced in kindergartens and was progressively extended to the first and second years of primary education. From 2024 it also includes the third year of primary school. According to the organisation, the programme has saved parents approximately €100 per child.
But with the new MR-Les Engagés government taking charge of the French Community Government, the future of the programme is uncertain. The new coalition’s majority agreement indicates plans to “evaluate” and possibly “adapt” the subsidy.
Ligue des familles argues that not only should the programme be maintained, it should also be extended to the fourth year of primary education – a measure it sees as an “immediate priority”. Failure to prioritise this could see pupils lose the benefits by 2025-2026.
“We're talking about the minimum supplies needed to learn properly at school. This is fundamental to giving every child the best chances," stressed the League’s managing director Madeleine Guyot. "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 also states that the scheme only represents a “minimal investment of 0.06%” on behalf of the government, but helps parents save “over €100.”
Saving hundreds of euros
Based on information collected by the league, the free school supplies programme has reduced the cost of back-to-school expenses to €80 per child in kindergarten. For children in first to third grade – when parents are expected to buy backpacks, pencil cases, sportswear, and other items – the cost has fallen to between €152 and €197 per child.
From the fourth to the sixth grade, where the programme is not currently applicable, back-to-school expenses can be up to €300 per child. The cost is even higher in secondary education. In general secondary education, back-to-school expenses average €783 per child, whereas the cost reaches €1,102 in technical education. In the professional education system (in which pupils follow more vocational training), where students are required to purchase their own personal tools or protective equipment, parents can end up spending up to €1,166.
A survey of 300 families with children covered by the government-funded programme found that 80% of schools provided all the necessary materials. Guyot hopes that this will increase over the coming years, once schools become used to using the subsidy.
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Some schools continue to issue parents with a supplies list at the start of every school year, despite it being against the law. Others charge “optional fees”, which the League says are also not allowed.
Overall, the subsidies is "bearing fruit," the League says. "Nevertheless, the free school supplies programme must continue to ensure that 100% of schools comply."
