France's state-run nursery and primary school sector is in the spotlight after a major investigation was launched into allegations of violence and abuse, both physical and sexual, at more than 100 institutions nationwide.
Nursery school is compulsory in France from age 3 and the allegations relate to the behavior of workers known as school monitors, who are recruited by local authorities rather than by the national education ministry or individual schools, who play a significant role in supervising children during breaks, at lunch, and in after-school care and clubs.
Parents had reportedly been making complaints about some of these workers, who are often hired without any formal qualifications, for some time, before the current scandal came to wider public attention.
Florian Lastelle, a lawyer representing three Paris families who have filed police complaints, said it was a "massive scandal … the state school system is a source of pride in this country, but unfortunately in France today it's not possible to say that the public service guarantees children's safety".
Laure Beccuau, a public prosecutor for Paris, said investigations had begun into 84 preschools, about 20 primary schools, and about 10 daycare centers.
