Compulsory instruction from the age of three: what are the consequences?

The fall of 2019 announces a change: the school will be made compulsory from the age of 3 if the text of law "for a school of trust"Compulsory is voted on Monday at the Higher Council of Education.

The Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, presents Monday, October 15 the law for a "school of confidence".
This makes compulsory the instruction at the age of 3 years, against 6 years now, next September.

School compulsory from 3 years: a symbolic measure?

The law "for a school of trust" presents several measures including the creation of a school assessment board and the review of teacher training. But the one that is not unanimous is the promise announced by Emmanuel Macron in March 2018: the passage of compulsory schooling from kindergarten.

Probably symbolic measure since 97% of 3-year-olds are already educated in kindergarten. For the Minister of National Education, this change should "act from the first years of schooling to promote the mastery of fundamental knowledge" and "fight against the first of the inequalities that is that of language."

Consequences for public authorities

While the communes did not have to finance private pre-schools until now, compulsory school education from the age of 3 changes the rules. From now on they will have to participate in the financing. The estimated cost is 40 million euros more.

The Code of Education provides that if parents do not register their children in an establishment, they will be liable to 6 months imprisonment and 7,500 euros fine. As for students, attendance at school is mandatory and any absence must be justified.