French Parliament Sends Bill No. 15 (2026) on Educational National Security to the General Legislation Committee
Presented by a group of deputies, the draft proposes life imprisonment for drug traffickers operating inside schools and for perpetrators of sexual assault against minors. It also sets 20‑ to 30‑year prison terms for other crimes targeting the school environment, such as bullying, digital luring, extortion, or the recruitment of minors for criminal activities.
A Unified Legal Framework to Protect the Educational Environment
The proposal, composed of 14 articles, aims to create a single legal regime that treats the school campus as a sovereign space deserving special protection.
- Any act committed on school premises, in their immediate vicinity, or through school‑related digital platforms will be classified as a crime that directly threatens educational national security.
- The bill criminalises, among other things:
- Promotion, distribution, or facilitation of drug consumption in schools
- Sexual assaults on minors
- Introduction of bladed weapons or other dangerous objects
- Formation of criminal networks that target the school environment
New Institutional Body
The draft also calls for the creation of a Directorate General for Educational National Security within the Ministry of the Interior. This body would:
- Coordinate security operations across all schools
- Monitor and investigate crimes linked to educational institutions
- Strengthen prevention mechanisms and enable rapid response
Mandatory Annual National Protection Strategy
The legislation obliges the State to develop a yearly national educational protection plan, which must include:
- Psychological support programmes for students
- Health‑ and social‑care assistance
- Digital‑prevention initiatives and anti‑drug campaigns
Addressing Gaps in Current Legislation
In the explanatory memorandum, deputies argue that the bill responds to:
- Escalating drug trafficking inside schools and surrounding areas
- A rise in bullying, digital luring, and sexual assaults against minors
They contend that existing laws are fragmented across the Penal Code, the Child Protection Code, and Law No. 58 on the elimination of violence against women. No single framework currently guarantees specific protection for educational institutions or offers enhanced safeguards against crimes committed there.
Further Reading
Read also: Banque postale en Tunisie : l'ARP entre dans le vif du sujet
Keywords: educational national security, school safety legislation, drug trafficking in schools, sexual assault minors, Tunisia parliament bill 2026, school crime prevention.
