Question 15200 — higher education

Summary

Mr. Maxime Michelet draws the attention of the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space to the growing attacks on academic freedom within higher education establishments and public research organizations. For several years, many teacher-researchers have been the subject of reports and internal disciplinary procedures whose legitimacy is questionable. These procedures, triggered by university presidents on the basis of reports from students or colleagues, frequently relate to the very content of teaching or to intellectual positions expressed within the strict framework of the exercise of their freedom of expression or academic freedom. The CNRS itself recognizes a significant increase in these procedures since 2023. Faced with this situation, teacher-researchers find themselves forced to come together in collectives in order to ensure among themselves the protection that their institutions no longer guarantee them. Because this phenomenon reveals a structural failure of the duty of protection that higher education establishments owe to their staff. Even more worrying, the scientific content of the courses is the subject of growing disputes from students, in particular invoking accusations of Islamophobia or of racism. These disciplinary commissions, made up of volunteer peers lacking legal training and sometimes openly politically engaged, can lead to suspensions, loss of remuneration and considerable defense costs for the teachers involved, without procedural guarantees equivalent to those of a court being ensured. Even in the event of acquittal, the reputation of those involved is lastingly affected. For fear of reprisals, some teachers censor themselves, to the detriment of the quality and diversity of the education provided. Academic freedom, enshrined in article L. 952-2 of the education code, constitutes a fundamental principle of higher education. It implies, for establishments, a duty to protect their teaching staff, including in the face of militant or ideological. He asks him what measures he intends to take to guarantee effective respect for academic freedom, strengthen the rights of defense in the context of university disciplinary procedures and ensure that higher education establishments fully exercise their duty of protection towards their teacher-researchers.

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