Historic Shift in Wallis and Futuna's Primary Education Management
Effective October 1, 2025, the management of primary schools in Wallis and Futuna will officially transfer from the local Catholic Mission to the French state. This significant change marks the end of a long-standing arrangement where primary education in the French overseas collectivity was overseen by a private entity, the Direction de l'enseignement catholique (DEC).
Background of Church-Managed Education
For decades, primary education in Wallis and Futuna has been largely under the purview of the Catholic Church. Since 1969, a convention between the French state and the local Catholic Mission granted the latter responsibility for managing primary schools. These institutions, while Catholic-run, have been publicly funded. The Catholic Church holds a deeply influential position within the territory, where the population is predominantly Catholic. This system represented a notable exception to France's principle of laïcité (secularism) in education.
Catalyst for the Management Transfer
The impetus for this change originated from a social crisis and a strike by primary school teachers in May 2023. The teachers' primary demand was their integration into the state civil service, seeking to align their status with that of their counterparts in secondary education, which is already managed by the Vice-rectorat, a decentralized administration of the French Ministry of National Education. This industrial action culminated in the signing of an agreement on July 20, 2023, which committed to ending the concession system that had been in place since 1969.
Legislative Framework and Implementation
To formalize this transition, a law was promulgated on June 2, 2025, and subsequently published on June 3, 2025. This legislation authorized the French government to enact an ordinance defining the conditions for integrating primary school teachers from Wallis and Futuna into the state civil service, specifically into the 'corps des professeurs des écoles de la fonction publique'. The necessary ordinance was then published on June 13, 2025. This legal framework paves the way for the teachers, who were previously private agents, to become state civil servants, ensuring a standardized approach to primary education management across the territory.
Future Outlook for Education in Wallis and Futuna
The transfer of primary school management to the French state signifies a major restructuring of the education system in Wallis and Futuna. This move aims to standardize the status of primary educators and integrate the primary education sector more fully into the national educational framework, bringing it in line with the management of secondary education within the collectivity. The change is expected to impact the approximately nine primary schools (seven on Wallis and two on Futuna) currently operating under the Catholic Mission's oversight.
5 Comments
Muchacha
The move towards state management addresses legitimate concerns about teacher status and educational standards, yet it's important to ensure that the curriculum continues to respect the strong Catholic heritage of Wallis and Futuna. Finding that balance will be key for successful implementation.
Mariposa
It's good that teachers will finally have consistent benefits and a clear career path, aligning with national standards. However, the community connection to the Catholic Mission schools is very deep, and the transition needs to be handled with extreme sensitivity to avoid alienating parents and students.
Comandante
Bringing these schools under state management should improve resources and oversight, which is generally a good thing for education. Yet, the long history of the Catholic Mission's involvement means this change will be more than just administrative; it will touch upon deeply held community values.
Africa
Laïcité in action! Education should be secular, period.
Ongania
Standardization is crucial for quality education. This brings W&F into the 21st century.