Paris – 06/09/2026: Today, Accompagnants des Élèves en Situation de Handicap (AESH) took to the streets across France to demand better working conditions and official recognition of their profession as civil servants. AESH play an important role in inclusive education by accompanying and supporting students with disabilities in their everyday school life.
Currently, many AESH work part-time with an average monthly salary of about 850 euros. This financial underfunding not only leads to high turnover but also makes it difficult to retain qualified professionals in the long term. Additionally, working hours are often irregular, further complicating the balance between work and private life.
In January 2026, the Senate rejected a bill that would have granted AESH civil servant status. The majority of senators argued that such a status is currently not feasible. This decision drew sharp criticism from those affected as well as from supporting trade unions and parents’ associations, who have long advocated for stable and fair recognition of AESH work.
Today’s nationwide demonstration is an expression of this protest. Many AESH and their supporters participated in the rally in Paris, fighting for better pay, fixed working hours, and above all, civil servant status. They emphasize that such recognition is a prerequisite for ensuring the quality of inclusive education. Without appropriate framework conditions, it is hardly possible to guarantee lasting and reliable support for students with disabilities.
The importance of AESH for the French education system is indisputable. They enable children and young people with disabilities to participate in regular classes, thus promoting inclusion and equal opportunities. Nevertheless, these assistants suffer from precarious working conditions that do not do justice to their important work.
The June 9 mobilization expresses the urgency with which politicians must respond to these demands. Whether and how the government and parliament will improve the situation of AESH will be closely watched in the coming weeks. The movement specifically calls for the legal establishment of civil servant status as well as a substantial salary increase to ensure social security and professional recognition for AESH.
The public debate surrounding AESH highlights the importance of taking inclusion seriously not only as an educational goal but also as a societal responsibility. Today’s protests could mark a turning point to finally achieve sustainable changes for this central professional group within the education system.
Sources
- Weka
- SE-UNSA