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

Verified 11 June 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You have a dispute with a national or higher education department and you couldn't resolve it alone? You can then enter the national and higher education ombudsman. The Ombudsman shall seek solutions to settle such disputes within a short period of time. There is a national mediator and academic mediators. Here's the information you need to know.

You can enter the mediator if you are:

  • Parent of pupil
  • Student
  • Student
  • Adult in training
  • National or higher education administration (teaching staff, administrative staff, AllAll : Techniques, workers and service, 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 to lodge a complaint to the department or institution concerned before calling on the Ombudsman. In the absence of a satisfactory response, you you can then go to the mediator.

FYI  

if your claim relates to certain electoral operations (such as the exercise of the right to vote or the proclamation of the results of the vote), you can directly the mediator.

It exists a nation-level mediatoral and a mediator in each academy.

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, CrousCrous : Regional Center for University and School Works, CnedCned : National Center for Distance Learning, 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).

You can enter the mediator in different ways.

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Via the Internet

You must enter the mediator by filling in an online form.

Refer the matter to the Ombudsman for National Education and Higher Education

By email

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

Who shall I contact

By telephone

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

Who shall I contact

By mail

The type of paper form to send depends on your situation.

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.

Who shall I contact
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.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

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

Yes, recourse to the ombudsman shall be 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 to settle your dispute.

Who shall I contact

You must file a complaint with the court of the place of service or establishment with which you are in dispute.

The obligation to hire a lawyer depends on the nature of your dispute.

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