French government cuts digital counselor funding

The French government has proposed reducing financial support for digital counselors in its 2027 budget, which could eliminate nearly all 4,000 such positions across the country. This move is part of broader budget adjustments aimed at addressing economic challenges, but it has raised concerns about the impact on digital inclusion efforts.

Digital counselors trained millions in five years

Digital counselors have been helping French citizens learn how to use digital tools for the past five years, training over 4 million people. These counselors worked in local communities, offering guidance on everything from basic smartphone use to online safety and digital literacy.

Monein’s digital workshops end due to funding cuts

In the town of Monein, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region, a social center has stopped offering digital workshops since July. Aurore, the counselor who led these sessions, was laid off because the managing association, Vie et rencontre, could no longer afford her salary.

Residents miss practical digital skills training

Sylvie, a participant in Aurore’s workshops, expressed disappointment, highlighting the practical skills she learned, such as saving photos from smartphones, online shopping, and identifying scams. Around 120 residents in Monein and nearby areas benefited from Aurore’s annual courses, which were designed to help people navigate the digital world confidently.

National program created thousands of counselor roles

Aurore was hired in June 2021 under the national digital counselor program, which aimed to support local associations and municipalities in training citizens. According to the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT), the program created over 4,000 positions nationwide and trained more than 4 million people in digital skills.

Local authorities warn of funding shortages

Sylvie Cazalas, director of the Monein center, said the organization expected some reduction in state funding but was surprised by how quickly the program might end. She noted that complementary funding from project calls has become increasingly rare, forcing local authorities to rethink their priorities.

Critics accuse government of ignoring warnings

Luc Derriano, a mission holder at Avicca, an association of elected officials focused on digital development, said the government has ignored warnings about funding shortfalls. He criticized the Ministry of Economy for dismissing proposed solutions to keep the program running.

Budget cut could end most counselor roles by next year

According to the Belle-Alliance group, which includes Avicca, the proposed budget cuts could lead to the disappearance of nearly all digital counselor positions by next year. While some local authorities might try to maintain these roles by reducing their own budgets or seeking alternative funding, most will have no choice but to eliminate them.

Digital skills training helps reduce isolation

Cazalas emphasized the broader impact of these workshops, which helped reduce social isolation and educated local teenagers on issues like fake news and social media use. With half the population struggling with online procedures, the need for digital literacy remains critical.