AESH assistants seek civil servant status in France

In France, the role of AESH (Accompagnant d’élèves en situation de handicap) is facing calls for structural reform. Currently, these assistants, who support the inclusion and schooling of students with disabilities, operate as contract workers. This status often results in socio-economic uncertainty, with recruitment typically involving fixed-term contracts.

The SNALC union is advocating for AESH to be integrated into the state civil service with Category B status. Such a change would provide job security through tenure, protection against arbitrary dismissal, and a more favorable salary scale with faster progression compared to the current contractual system.

While both AESH and ATSEM (Agent territorial spécialisé des écoles maternelles) work within the school system, their roles differ significantly. ATSEMs support all children in nursery schools by assisting with daily hygiene, meals, and pedagogical activities. In contrast, AESH provide specialized support to students with disabilities to facilitate their autonomy, learning, and integration within the classroom.