This is the debate that returns at each start of the school year.
This year, it was relaunched at the end of August by a little sentence from the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer.
"We know that there are sometimes larger purchases of flat screens in September than at other times," he said on the show "Dimanche en politique", while he was questioned about possible misappropriation of the back-to-school allowance.
Read alsoIs the back-to-school allowance really misused to buy flat screens?
He is another government heavyweight who raised a dissenting voice on Friday. “Maybe there is a part of this money that is not just used to buy school supplies for the children. So what? (...) Those who receive these allowances are by definition families who receive less than 1,500 euros net per month, that is to say people who do not live in wealth. In this type of family, we don't replace a schoolbag because it's back to school, we replace it because it's worn out (…) I'm not shocked that families can use part of this school allowance. is used to pay an electricity bill, to take a little more gasoline to go on weekends or decide to fill up with a certain number of foods, ”said Olivier Véran at the microphone of France Bleu.
"We don't replace a schoolbag because it's back to school, we replace it because it's worn out [...] I'm not shocked if the back-to-school allowance is used for an electricity bill" @olivierveran in the show #MaFrance with @WendyBouchard pic.twitter.com/e2cMLUmYJa
- France Bleu (@francebleu) September 3, 2021
Friday, in Marseille, Emmanuel Macron had meanwhile declared himself against the “stigmatization” of families in the use of the school allowance.
Without specifically mentioning the statement of the Minister of Education, which was denounced by politicians and trade unionists, Mr. Macron stressed that "we build things well when we are based on a lucid and truthful observation".
But "we must not enter a system of social control where there would be a form of mistrust that is established with regard to families," he added.
Means-tested
"There should be no stigmatization" but it is important that "parliamentarians check that taxpayers' money is going to the right place, I think it is public health," he concluded.
The back-to-school allowance, which helps parents with low incomes pay for school bags and other supplies, was paid in August to 3 million families.
Granted subject to conditions of resources, the ARS amounts this year to 370.31 euros for children aged 6 to 10, 390.74 euros for children from 11 to 14 years old, and 404.28 euros for adolescents of 15 to 18 years old.
Last year, the government “exceptionally” increased this aid by 100 euros to enable families to cope with the “social consequences” of the first year of the health crisis in France.
