Soaring fees at LFCG : AEFE on the edge of the abyss
Earlier this year, various federations of parents’ associations from French schools abroad, including the UNAPE, to which the CIPL is affiliated, and the FAPEE, representing other parents’ associations of French schools overseas, raised serious concerns about the situation of the Agency managing the French Lycée, which is under the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
C’est ça The Lycée:
The impact on tuition fees at the LFCG is clear: with the introduction of 20% VAT from 1 January 2025, this represents a 62% increase over 5 years, a doubling in just 10 years (2015/2025), and a rise three times faster than inflation..
If tuition fees had followed inflation, they would only be £8,220, vs. £12,210 today!
In this context, the AEFE, despite repeated requests from parents and associations, has remained inflexible, as evidenced by its response letter dated July. Consequently, it has decided on a further 4% fee increase from the September 2025 school term.
This decision is currently subject to an appeal before the Paris Administrative Court, initiated by an independent group of parents from the Lycée Charles de Gaulle due to a lack of support from the APL. The case is expected to be heard soon.
A second appeal also challenges the mid-school-year application of VAT.
CIPL will keep parents informed of developments in these matters.
Worse is yet to come: a 24 million euro cut to the agency’s budget for the new school year (approved by the administration with 21 votes in favour and 13 against) and an outdated operational model were the main topics at its latest Board meeting.
These budget cuts to the agency inevitably raise concerns about a further reduction in the agency's net aid to the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle, as well as an increase in the contribution that the Lycée pays annually to the AEFE, namely the PFC (Participation Forfaitaire Complémentaire) and the PRRD (Participation à la Rémunération des Résidents Détachés), which is already at 63%, the highest rate among all EGDs (Établissements en Gestion Directe).
This underscores the need for a complete overhaul of the agency’s model. A working group comprising state services and the AEFE will share proposals with the federations of parents’ associations and teachers’ unions invited. An extraordinary Board meeting will be held in the autumn.
