National and Higher Education Ombudsman: How can it be used?

Verified 26 November 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you have not been able to resolve a dispute with a national or higher education department on your own, you can refer the matter to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman for National Education and Higher Education shall seek solutions to these disputes within a short period of time. Recourse to the Ombudsman shall be free of charge. There is a national mediator and academic mediators.

You can enter the mediator if you are in one of the following situations:

  • Parent of pupil
  • Student
  • Student
  • Adult in training
  • National or higher education administration (teaching staff, administrative staff, All: titleContent etc.)

You can enter the mediator if you were unable to settle a single dispute concerning the operation of the public service of national education, from kindergarten to higher education.

You must first address a complaint to the relevant department or institution before calling on the Ombudsman. If you do not receive a satisfactory answer, you may contact the Ombudsman.

You must enter the ombudsman of the academy if you are challenging a decision made by one of the following organizations:

  • Institution (school, college, high school, university, etc.)
  • Service under an academy (directorate of departmental services of national education, rectorate, Crous: titleContent, Cned: titleContent, etc.).

You must enter the ombudsman for national and higher education if you are challenging a decision made by one of the following organizations:

  • Headquarters of the Ministry of National Education or Higher Education (e.g. Human Resources Department, Pensions Department)
  • Network of French Institutions Abroad (AEFE)
  • Inter-Academic Examination and Competition Service (SIEC)

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By email

The e-mail addresses of the various ombudsmen are available on the website of the Ministry of Education.

By telephone

The telephone numbers of the various ombudsmen are available on the website of the Ministry of National Education.

By mail

You are a parent of a student, student, or adult in training

You must complete a form:

Claim with the National Education Ombudsman (parent of a student, high school or student)

The addresses of the various ombudsmen are available on the website of the Ministry of National Education.

You're an education person

You must complete a form:

Claim of a staff (teacher, engineer, administrative, technical, etc.) to the Ombudsman for National Education and Higher Education

The addresses of the various ombudsmen are available on the website of the Ministry of National Education.

Warning  

bringing an action before the ombudsman does not interrupt the time limits for bringing an action before the courts.

No, recourse to the Ombudsman is free of charge.

If the Ombudsman considers that your complaint is not admissible, he or she will inform you in a reasoned manner.

If he finds your complaint admissible, he examines the file and seeks a solution with the department or establishment that gave rise to the contested decision. He then sends you his conclusions.

If the solution proposed by the Ombudsman is not suitable for you, you can to take legal action.

Who shall I contact