After the Nogent Tragedy, a Minute of Silence and a Call to Strengthen School Security

Following the murder of a school supervisor at a middle school in Nogent (Haute-Marne), Education Minister Élisabeth Borne has announced that a minute of silence will be observed this Thursday, June 12, at noon in all educational institutions.

Speaking on France Inter this Wednesday morning, the Minister of Education responded to the tragic events that shocked the entire educational community. On Tuesday, June 10, Mélanie G., 31, was fatally stabbed by a 14-year-old student during a bag check outside Françoise-Dolto Middle School. The teenager was arrested on the spot by gendarmes.

Describing the act as a “horrific tragedy,” Borne announced a nationwide minute of silence. “The entire nation is in shock,” she said, stressing that “protecting schools and those who make them live is an absolute priority.”

Strengthening Security Without Turning Schools Into Fortresses

In response to criticism from various political factions, Borne defended the need to balance increased vigilance with maintaining a welcoming school environment. While she ruled out systematic searches at school entrances, she expressed openness to testing measures such as security gates or turnstiles “in partnership with willing local authorities.”

“We cannot turn schools into bunkers,” she said, advocating for collaboration with local governments to ensure schools remain safe yet conducive to learning.

A Mental Health and Youth Protection Challenge

Beyond physical safety, the minister emphasized the importance of addressing students’ mental health. A new plan requires all schools to implement protocols for identifying psychological distress, including two trained staff members per school and one advisor per department. Additional school nurses, social workers, and psychologists are also set to be recruited.

Commenting on President Emmanuel Macron’s recent promise to ban social media for those under 15, Borne warned against the dangers of overexposure to violent online content. “Social media platforms have a responsibility,” she said, adding that the normalization of violence online is causing young people to “lose their sense of right and wrong.”