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Lille Court Finds French State Liable for Unreplaced Teacher, Orders Damages

Judges ruled a sixth-grader suffered direct and certain harm after losing a large share of her annual French instruction.

Overview

  • The Tribunal administratif de Lille ruled on November 28 that the State committed an organizational fault in the public education service.
  • The student missed 55 of 162 French hours in 2022–2023—about 34% of the annual schedule for a pivotal sixth-grade year.
  • The French teacher was on medical leave all year and designated substitutes were also absent at times, and the court found the rectorate’s arrangements did not ensure continuous instruction.
  • The State was ordered to compensate the family, with the judgment citing €470 for material loss and €500 for moral harm.
  • In a separate case the same day, a 19-hour shortfall in another subject was deemed not appreciable, and no State fault was found.