The essentials
Ministry claims significant teacher recruitment gains, but widespread school vacancies persist.
France's Ministry of Education claims substantial progress in filling secondary school teaching positions. The ministry reports 96.1% of secondary school teaching positions filled in 2026, up from 90.6% the previous year, representing a 5.5 percentage point increase.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray attributes the improvement to teaching recruitment reforms, citing exam changes as contributing factors to the stronger recruitment performance.
However, this assessment contrasts sharply with recent survey data, which indicates that 69% of secondary schools continue to report staff vacancies, with 53% lacking at least one teacher. The divergence between official fill-rate figures and school-reported vacancies raises questions about how recruitment metrics are measured and interpreted.
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Government highlights recruitment progress from education reforms
Education Minister Édouard Geffray points to 96.1% position fill rates and a 5.5 percentage point year-over-year increase as evidence that policy reforms are working. The ministry credits exam changes with driving improved recruitment outcomes, suggesting structural interventions are addressing the shortage.
Schools report vacancies despite ministry's positive recruitment claims
Survey data shows 69% of secondary schools report staff vacancies, with 53% lacking at least one teacher, contradicting the ministry's position-fill metrics. The disconnect suggests official figures and school-experienced staffing challenges operate on different measurements or definitions.