May 8 and Ascension, two public holidays, will follow each other this week. Friday May 10 is not supposed to be a day off for students. But what do parents risk?
Is a missed day of school so bad? It’s a question that might cross many parents’ minds this week. May 8 and Ascension follow each other but leave a gap, Friday May 10, before the weekend.
In theory: sanctions exist. The rules are specified in black and white in the Education Code. A certain number of legitimate absences are tolerated: child illness, solemn family reunion… But not the improvised bridge.
If a student has two days of unjustified absences in the month, parents can theoretically receive a warning and be summoned, or even be “sanctioned” with a fine of 135 euros, as explained by the Ministry of Education national.
“If these unjustified absences compromise your child’s education, you risk 2 years in prison and a €30,000 fine,” it is specified on the ministry website.
Leniency of establishments
But in reality, what is it really? Philippe Ratinet, the president of the National Schools Union, explains to BFMTV that the sanctions are theoretically not likely to concern a parent for one or two absences.
“In the event of absenteeism, beyond the limits provided for by the education code, we start by bringing together the institution and the parents to discuss (…) so that the child is present at school” , points out the president of the union.
Clearly, it seems unlikely that an establishment will report a one-off absence to the rectorate, especially in this situation where several parents could have the same idea. But the teaching staff still deplores an inevitable effect of this practice, the falling behind in the programs, in a period at the end of the year when it is necessary to complete them.
Good news however, this situation will not happen again anytime soon. We will have to wait until 2043 for such a series of public holidays.
