How French teachers' pensions leave students falling behind


FILE PHOTO: Former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal attends a parliamentary debate on the Social Security Financing Bill for 2026, including the suspension of the contentious 2023 pension reform, during a session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) -France's education budget is being squeezed by its pension system: of the 90 billion euros earmarked for schools next year, more than a quarter will go to retired teachers rather than under-resourced classrooms, Reuters calculations show.

The retirement scheme is under strain from demographic shifts and rising costs, leaving fewer resources to tackle falling student performance and highlighting the challenge of funding pensions without starving public services.

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