France faces challenges in inclusive education for students with disabilities

In France, discussions regarding inclusive education for children with disabilities are intensifying ahead of the National Disability Conference scheduled for September 2026. The CFDT Éducation union has issued a tribune highlighting significant gaps in the current system. Despite the creation of 2,000 additional AESH (Accompagnants des Élèves en Situation de Handicap) positions in 2025, the number of students requiring human assistance who remain without support has risen from 36,000 in 2024 to 50,000 in 2025.

Educational staff report facing increased psychosocial risks and professional distress due to insufficient resources and the complexity of managing individualized student needs. The union is calling for an interministerial plan that prioritizes the interests of children and involves frontline workers in the construction of solutions.

To support inclusion, the French educational system utilizes various mechanisms, most notably the Projet Personnalisé de Scolarisation (PPS). Developed by the Maison Départementale des Personnes Handicapées (MDPH) in collaboration with families, the PPS defines the specific adaptations and accommodations required for a student's schooling from early childhood through high school.