Hauts-de-France high school renovation funding, Digi Mart USA News (Amiens, France): Responding to demands from high school students, the French government has identified 200 high schools “requiring particular attention,” 19 of which are located in the Hauts-de-France region, according to France 3 Régions. The list was compiled from reports submitted by students, but regional officials question how it was built.
Laurent Rigaud, vice-president in charge of education and high schools for the Hauts-de-France Region, said at a press conference on November 3 that the list was not co-built with the region. “Can we really say the answers came from students?” he asked.
He also noted that the list cites 201 high schools in the region, while there are 270.
Rigaud objected to the method of publicly naming the schools. “These are 200 high schools put in the pillory; we would have preferred the names not come out,” he said.
The region, which is responsible for buildings but not timetables, maintains its own list of schools needing renovation based on a condition rating that changes as work is completed. Few of its rankings currently match the state’s selection.
Rigaud said he was surprised by some schools he knows well, but added that when examined closely, one had a new principal and others may not reflect responses from actual students. “There is reality on one side and perception on the other,” he said.
He said the region has invested 55 million euros since 2018 in the buildings of the 19 schools identified by the ministry, and rejected the idea that schools were selected for special treatment. “We have 270 high schools.
If we invest every year, it is in every institution,” he said. “Every high school has expenses every year.
There is not a single high school that does not have work each year.”
According to the 2026 budget cited by the region, 3 million euros are allocated to sanitary facility renovation, 10 million euros to security, 100 million euros to heating systems and 155 million euros to other investments.
The region said it wants to reassure students and their parents, stating that it will continue its daily work, meet staff and students, maintain contact with teachers and strengthen local teams. Rigaud said building renovation requires experts and takes time, and that communication with students is key.
On the government’s announcement of 4 billion euros made available to local authorities in the form of loans from the Banque des territoires, Rigaud said the region is waiting to learn how the funds will be distributed among regions and departments before claiming victory. “Everything we can mobilize to do better, we will mobilize,” he said.
Rigaud added that the region will communicate more directly with families, students and school principals so that students can resume their studies as quickly as possible under calm conditions.
