Lyon Metropolitan Council restores funding for private Catholic schools

The Lyon Metropolitan Council has adopted two deliberations to increase the externship allowance for private middle schools under contract, effectively ending a legal dispute initiated by the UNIOGEC.

The decision reverses a previous plan to reduce funding by nearly 45% starting in 2026, a move that threatened the operations of 35 Catholic colleges serving over 22,500 students. For 2026, the material portion of the allowance will be restored to 255.06 euros per student, bringing the total allowance to 514.62 euros. This represents an additional 2.6 million euros in funding for the region's colleges.

Looking ahead to 2027, the council plans a further increase, setting the total allowance at 647 euros per student (comprising 295 euros for materials and 352 euros for personnel). This 26% increase aims to align the funding with national averages. Pierre-Vincent Guéret, President of the FNOGEC and UNIOGEC Rhône-Roannais, stated that the goal was not special treatment, but rather ensuring the allowance reflects the actual cost of a student, consistent with public education standards.