French Education Ministry Launches Inspections Following Scandal at Bétharram School

Decades of alleged abuse at a Catholic school prompt new measures to strengthen oversight of private institutions.

Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, now called Le Beau Rameau, is undergoing its first inspection in 30 years following over 150 allegations of violence and sexual abuse.
The Education Ministry announced a plan to increase inspections of private schools, deploying 60 additional inspectors by 2026 and aiming to inspect 40% of such institutions within two years.
The plan includes quarterly anonymous questionnaires for boarding students and post-trip surveys to better collect reports of abuse or misconduct.
A parliamentary commission has been established to investigate state oversight of private and public schools, with plans to question Prime Minister François Bayrou about past handling of the Bétharram case.
The Bétharram scandal has sparked broader scrutiny of abuse in Catholic schools across France, with new tools like mandatory reporting apps and strengthened social services being introduced.