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Karim Bencheikh, a deputy representing French citizens living abroad and a board member of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), is urging a halt to the measures announced in December 2025 that propose a reform impacting school fees for parents. In a statement released on March 12, he emphasized that suspending these measures is «a prerequisite for any sincere debate on the reform of French education abroad».
This call comes on the heels of an AEFE board meeting the previous day, which reviewed the agency's financial report for 2025. Bencheikh highlighted a "3 million euro surplus," a stark contrast to the "previous alarmist forecasts." Back on December 18, the administration had cited a "59 million euro deficit to justify the urgent adoption of severe financial measures for the network," including shifting costs to schools that were previously covered by the Agency, as explained by the deputy.
Bencheikh also pointed out that these decisions were made "against the advice of parliamentarians, representatives of parents, and staff on the board." With the new financial data "profoundly changing the situation," he has called for an "immediate suspension" of the controversial measures, asserting that they "cannot be maintained based on budget forecasts that do not hold true."
Simultaneously, the deputy noted that the French Prime Minister had tasked majority parliamentarian Samantha Cazebonne with "a mission to reflect on the future of the AEFE." For a reform "within a framework of trust and in respect of democratic dialogue rules," he further insisted on suspending the prior measures.
Bencheikh's initiative coincides with recent actions by parent associations (APE) in AEFE schools in Morocco. On March 9, four organizations responded to the announced 7% increase in school fees starting next year for the Rabat-Kénitra district.
In Morocco, Parents Prepare Legal Action
In a statement, the parent associations announced they have enlisted a lawyer from the French bar to "prepare the necessary elements for a substantive appeal to the competent Administrative Court." This legal action includes drafting an "introductory petition, possible rebuttal briefs," and preparing for "potential hearings."
Additionally, the APE reported sending a request to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs for a review aimed at canceling Decision No. 1/RABAT/2026 of February 19, 2026, concerning the fee increase. The associations argue that the decision lacks "any element to identify the criteria used for applying the principles set by the Board, nor to concretely assess how the local situation was considered."
The APE also criticize the decision for disregarding the "budgetary proposals and financial solutions put forward by elected parent representatives," which aimed to "contain the announced percentage increase." In February, François Cuilhé, head of the Rabat-Kénitra district of AEFE schools, reported on "a financial effort" for optimizations made by the institution on expenses.
This decision followed the conclusions of the AEFE board meeting in December 2025, regarding the transfer of costs for seconded personnel to the schools. This move results in an increase in school fees to cover 35% of the civil pensions of staff seconded by France for the 2026-2027 school year, and then 50% in 2027-2028.
