School time and holidays: Macron to launch a citizens' convention

Emmanuel Macron will launch a new citizens' convention in June on "children's time" , including holiday times and school timetables, the Élysée Palace announced on Friday, May 2, 2025.

"It seems to me necessary that we work to ensure that the organization of our students' days is more favorable to their development and learning, and that a balance is also found to make life easier for families," the president told Le Parisien.

A randomly selected panel of French people will be tasked with hearing experts and then issuing opinions on the organization of school days for minors: what time to start classes, when to stop classes, which course to include in the morning, etc. The question of the number of weeks of vacation will also be addressed.

"France has longer holidays than many countries," the head of state said in February.

"There are many countries that don't go on holiday until July 14th. We have very, very long holidays in the summer. Children who are not accompanied by their families will often lose their academic level (...) Children's time is something that we are going to open up, but it needs to be discussed a little," he said.

"The citizens' convention seemed to me to be the most appropriate tool for consulting the French people, because it is a very complex issue that will require reaching a consensus among all those affected by this vast subject, such as parents, the educational community, including extracurricular activities, local authorities, and even tourism professionals," the head of state added in the columns of Le Parisien on Friday.

In his New Year's wishes for 2025, Emmanuel Macron hinted at the launch of a new citizens' convention or the organization of a referendum, saying that the French would be required to "decide" on key issues.

Two citizens' commissions have already been organized: on the end of life and on the climate.

The Citizens' Commission on End of Life (CCFV) submitted a report on this topic in April 2023, leading to a bill currently being considered by the National Assembly. It brought together some 200 French citizens selected by lot at the government's request.

Another citizens' convention on climate was held in 2019 and 2020 during the president's first five-year term. According to many observers, the executive branch largely ignored its conclusions.