French education abroad strengthened with passage of law on AEFE governance and the creation of regional training centers (18 Feb. 2022)

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Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Minister of State for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, attached to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery, addressed the National Assembly on February 16 prior to the adoption of the law modifying the governance of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) and establishing regional training centers.

In keeping with the plan to expand French education abroad presented by Jean-Yves Le Drian and Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne on October 3, 2019, this law reflects the aim of making the French education system abroad more attractive. That system currently includes 552 schools and 380,000 students in 138 countries.

Mr. Lemoyne reiterated the goal set by President Macron in 2018 to double the number of jobs at these schools by 2030 and stressed the desire to bolster the efforts of the AEFE, an operator for the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in charge of monitoring registered schools.

The consistency, professionalism and quality of education provided – and particularly innovative multilingual education – will be strengthened with the establishment of 16 regional teacher training centers worldwide. The law also gives an important role to parents, boosting their representation on the AEFE’s board.

Mr. Le Drian et Mr. Lemoyne hail this latest step toward strengthening the French education system abroad, a fundamental service provided for French nationals abroad and a major instrument of French influence.