Ombudsman for national education and higher education: how to use it?
Verified 24 February 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you have dispute with a department of national education or of higher education and that you have couldn't fix it alone, you can enter the ombudsman for national education and higher education. The mediator shall, within a short period, seek solutions for settle the dispute. There is a national mediator and academic mediators. Here is the information you need to know.
You can contact the mediator if you are:
- Parent of pupil
- Pupil
- Student
- Adult in training
- National or higher education administration officer (e.g. teaching, administrative, All: titleContent).
You can contact the mediator if you do not could not settle alone one dispute concerning the functioning of the public service of national educationfrom kindergarten to higher education.
You must first lodge a complaint before appealing to the mediator, the department or institution concerned.
In the absence of a satisfactory response, you you can then contact the mediator.
FYI
If your complaint concerns certain electoral operations (in particular the exercise of the right to vote or the proclamation of the results of the vote), you can directly the mediator.
It exists an ombudsman at national levelal and a mediator in each academy.
You must enter the academy mediator if you are challenging a decision made by any of the following:
- Institution (school, college, high school, university, etc.)
- Department of an academy (Department of National Education Services, Rectorate, Crous: titleContent, Cned: titleContentetc.).
You must enter the ombudsman for national education and higher education if you are challenging a decision made by any of the following:
- Central administration of the Ministry of National Education or Higher Education (e.g. Human Resources Department, Pensions Department)
- Network of French institutions abroad (AEFE)
- Interacademic Examinations and Competitions Service (SIEC).
You can enter the mediator in different ways.
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By internet
You must contact the mediator by filling out an online form:
To refer the matter to the Ombudsman for National Education and Higher Education
By email
The e-mail address of the various mediators is available on the website of the Ministry of National Education.
Who shall I contact
By phone
The telephone numbers of the various mediators are available on the website of the Ministry of National Education.
Who shall I contact
By post
The paper form to send depends on your situation:
You are a parent, student, student or adult in training
You must fill out a form:
Complaint to the National Education Ombudsman (parent, high school student or student)
The addresses of the various ombudsmen are available on the website of the Ministry of National Education.
Who shall I contact
You're an education person
You must fill out a form:
The addresses of the various ombudsmen are available on the website of the Ministry of National Education.
Who shall I contact
Yes, recourse to the ombudsman is free.
If the mediator finds that your complaint is not admissible, he informs you in a reasoned manner.
If they find your complaint admissible, they will examine the file and seek a solution with the department or institution that issued the contested decision. He then sends you his conclusions.
If the solution proposed by the mediator does not suit you, you can bringing the matter before the courts to settle your dispute.
Warning
Recourse to the Ombudsman does not suspend the period during which you can bring your case before the courts.
You must bring the matter before the court of the place of service or establishment with which you are in dispute.
The obligation to hire a lawyer depends on the nature of your dispute.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Ministry of Education