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French civic exam 2026, History, geography and culture
Since what year has public school been free?
An official question of the French civic exam, with its answer and the official text that proves it, in French and English.
Multi-year residence permit no. 127
Depuis quelle année l'école publique est-elle gratuite ?
Since what year has public school been free?
Answer. Since 1881.
Depuis 1881.
The Jules Ferry law of 1881 makes public school free. In 1882, another law makes it secular and compulsory.
The official text that proves it
« Elle généralise l’ école publique gratuite en 1881 et l’ école laïque et obligatoire en 1882, grâce aux lois de Jules Ferry. »
It generalizes free public school in 1881 and secular, compulsory school in 1882, through the laws of Jules Ferry.
In French, with its English meaning. read the official sheet
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All 521 official questions, in French and English
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Questions from the official lists of the French Ministry of the Interior, quotations from the civic training sheets, the Constitution and the 1789 Declaration, Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0. This is not a government site. The official sheets are free, in French, on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr.
