Education Minister rejects weekly flag-raising plan for Nice schools
Education Minister Édouard Geffray has rejected plans by Nice Mayor Éric Ciotti to introduce weekly flag-raising ceremonies accompanied by La Marseillaise in the city’s schools.
Geffray said on Monday that decisions over educational activities in schools are set at national level and cannot be imposed by a local mayor.
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Ciotti announced last week that a French flagpole would be installed in every school playground in Nice between the start of the new school year and the All Saints’ holidays.
The mayor also proposed working with education authorities, headteachers, council staff and parents to organise a ceremony at least once a week, during which pupils would raise the French flag and sing the national anthem.
Geffray said such a ceremony involving all pupils could not be introduced without instructions from the Education Ministry, adding that he had no intention of issuing them.
Ciotti has defended the initiative, saying the French flag represents the country’s history, struggles and freedoms and is a symbol that should be passed on to children.
The Education Minister did, however, point to a separate national initiative being introduced this school year.
Pupils from CM1 through to the final year of secondary school will take part in an annual commemorative ceremony around 11 November, paying tribute to those who died for France.
While flagpoles are still due to be installed in Nice school playgrounds, the proposed weekly flag-raising ceremony with La Marseillaise will not be able to go ahead without approval from the Education Ministry.