Status of staff seconded (détachés) from the French Ministry of Education
The status of staff seconded from the French National Education system
This status applies to all teaching staff who are tenured civil servants of the French Ministry of Education, including primary school heads. Only the recruitment procedure for the latter differs.
What is a secondment (détachement)?
Secondment allows a French National Education civil servant to carry out their duties in an AFLEC school while retaining their rights to career advancement in their original corps and to a civil service pension. At the end of their assignment, secondment guarantees the civil servant reinstatement within the French National Education system.
Administrative rules
Staff seconded to an AFLEC school carry out their duties within that school, which manages and pays them.
For the duration of the secondment, they are subject to the rules of the AFLEC school to which they are assigned. A contract sets out the main rules: remuneration, appraisal, leave entitlement, etc.
Duration
Secondment is granted for a period of three years. It may, however, be renewed for a further period of three years in the same school.
The secondment may be terminated by the administration, by the employing body or by the teacher. In the event of termination during the contract, the seconded staff member must apply for reinstatement within the French National Education system.
Pension
The contributions owed by the seconded civil servant are paid monthly by the civil servant to the Treasury. Decree no. 2007-1796 of 19 December 2007.
Although the secondment of a civil servant to a body located in the territory of a foreign state does not necessarily entail membership, for the duration of the secondment, of the special State civil and military pension scheme, all staff seconded to an AFLEC school are required to be members of it.
Social security entitlements
Membership of the Caisse des Français à l’étranger (CFE) is required for staff seconded to an AFLEC school.
How do you return to your original corps?
At the end of the secondment, you must submit a request for reinstatement.
Secondment procedure from the French Ministry of Education
Important: Please consult the memorandum published in the Bulletin Officiel: Access the memorandum (Note de service)
Applying
To apply, please consult the list of vacancies and the corresponding job description. You must then complete the online form that corresponds to your status.
The Recruitment Committee then reviews the applications and, if the profile is suitable, holds one or more interviews. These may take place either at AFLEC’s Paris head office or by video conference.
How does one become seconded?
If, following the selection procedures carried out by the AFLEC Human Resources Committee, your application is successful, AFLEC will offer you a contract stating, in particular, the nature of the duties you will perform, the planned duration and the amount of your annual remuneration (including salary, bonuses and allowances).
AFLEC will then forward your secondment request to the French Ministry of Education, together with your duly signed contract.
The Ministry will pass this request on to your Rector (Recteur), who will issue an opinion (favourable or unfavourable) on your secondment request.
If the opinion is favourable, the Ministry will issue a secondment order (arrêté de détachement), which will be sent to you.
Any departure on secondment can only be authorised by the central administration, that is, depending on the case, by the DGRH B2-1 or DGRH B2-4 office, after consultation with the DA-SEN and the Rector.
Applying for a primary school leadership post
Applying for a primary school head position
Seconded primary school heads are selected by the AFLEC Recruitment Committee
Application form
To apply, please consult the list of vacancies and the corresponding job description. The appropriate application form is to be completed, together with the supporting documents requested: a detailed curriculum vitae highlighting the candidate’s abilities in team leadership, internal and external communication and command of the most dynamic teaching methods.
Interviews
Candidates shortlisted on the strength of their application are invited to one or more interviews with the AFLEC Recruitment Committee. These interviews may take place either at AFLEC’s Paris head office or by video conference.
Final selection
The applications of primary school heads selected by the Recruitment Committee are submitted for approval to the Management Committee of the school to which they are assigned. In all cases, the Management Committee holds the final authority to officially appoint the staff chosen.