Paris – 06/18/2026: Agnès Evren, Republican Senator from Paris and rapporteur for the Senate committee dealing with violence in extracurricular care, spoke on June 18, 2026, on the program “Tout est politique” about the current scandal in the Paris extracurricular care sector. She pointed out that unlike other large French cities, the City of Paris was already informed about the grievances but still did not take sufficient measures.
The accusations are directed at coordinators working in after-school care programs for children in primary schools and kindergartens. In 2025, 46 coordinators were suspended in Paris, 20 of them due to sexual assaults. By April 2026, this number had risen to a total of 78 suspensions, with 31 cases suspected of sexual violence. The coordinators are employees of the City of Paris, not the Ministry of Education, which underscores the city’s responsibility.
Extracurricular care activities include offerings such as lunch, afternoon care, and holiday programs that take place outside regular school hours. Reports from parents and teachers repeatedly highlight the danger and insecurity experienced by children in this care. In February 2026, 73 parents filed a class action lawsuit against unknown parties to draw attention to these grievances and demand changes.
Facing public pressure, Emmanuel Grégoire, the Mayor of Paris since May 2026, announced an extensive action plan. With a budget of around 20 million euros, this plan aims to improve safety, quality, and transparency in extracurricular care. Measures include the establishment of an independent committee to oversee care structures as well as organizing a citizens’ convention for the future design of extracurricular care.
The scandal has sparked a broad societal debate about the working conditions of coordinators and child safety in after-school care. Experts and associations emphasize that alongside the prosecution of abuses, preventive measures and better training of caregivers are necessary to sustainably improve the situation.
Developments in Paris’s extracurricular care reflect the challenges many municipalities in France face in providing high-quality and safe care offerings for children outside school hours. The coming months will show whether the announced reforms can regain parents’ trust and how comprehensively the changes will be implemented.
Overall, the scandal makes clear that strict oversight and transparent local governance are imperative to ensure the health and well-being of children in extracurricular care and to prevent further abuses.
Sources
- Franceinfo