France: New School Year to Feature Sexual Violence Questionnaire, Phone Ban

France's Education Minister Édouard Geffray has outlined key initiatives for the upcoming school year, promising a period of "action" rather than mere "announcements." Speaking at a press conference held at the Lycée Louis-Arago in Paris, Geffray stressed his focus on instruction and pedagogy while protecting students and staff from all forms of violence.

A significant measure introduced is a new questionnaire designed to detect sexual violence, which will be administered to approximately 10 million students. This survey, covering pupils from the final year of kindergarten up to the last year of high school, is set to be implemented in November. Geffray confirmed this initiative, which he had previously mentioned in regional press.

The minister also addressed recent cyberattacks that affected his department at the end of July. He reaffirmed the government's stance on banning mobile phones in high schools, a policy that came into effect with the new school year. Geffray's remarks signaled a proactive approach to addressing safety concerns and educational priorities as millions of students prepare to return to classrooms.