Racist and Antisemitic Incidents Persist in French Schools Despite Drop in Secularism Violations

New data shows a decline in school-related secularism violations, but antisemitic and racist acts remain a significant concern, prompting government action.

The French Education Ministry reported 1,848 secularism violations in schools from September to December 2024, a significant decrease from 3,896 in the same period in 2023.
Racist and antisemitic incidents in schools totaled 973 between September and November 2024, with 496 racist and 477 antisemitic acts documented.
Acts of antisemitism in schools have remained persistently high, with a notable increase in incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel.
Key secularism violations include the wearing of religious attire (315 cases), challenges to teaching content (303 cases), and verbal provocations (285 cases).
The government has relaunched its anti-antisemitism initiative, focusing on educational institutions and addressing the growing normalization of hate speech among youth.