The French Ministry of Education has announced that a new questionnaire on gender-based and sexual violence (VSS) will be given to all students from preschool through high school for the first time on November 5, alongside the annual anti-bullying survey. The survey is intended to identify cases of violence and will be adapted to the age of the students, with the option of remaining anonymous. However, concerns have been raised about how effectively anonymity can be maintained, especially for younger children who may not be able to read. Aurélie Gagnier from the FSU-Snuipp union questioned how teachers could ensure students' privacy, noting that handwriting recognition or the order of papers could potentially reveal the identity of the student who filled out the questionnaire. The ministry has suggested that students could speak with a "trusted adult" if they need help, but the identity and availability of these adults are still unclear. Sylvie Perron, a school principal and CFDT Education representative, pointed out that many schools lack essential support staff, such as social workers, nurses, psychologists, or school doctors. According to the 2026 edition of the "Géographie de l'école," there is only one medical or social worker per 1,000 students and only 0.7 psychologists per 1,000 students in primary education. Isabelle Debré of L'Enfant bleu added that even if such personnel existed, they would need specialized training in psychotrauma to properly support students who have experienced violence. The VSS questionnaire is part of the mandatory Evar (Education à la Vie Affective et Relationnelle) program introduced in the 2025 school year, which aims to promote healthy relationships and prevent violence. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of training for teachers who will be responsible for implementing the program. Aurélie Gagnier noted that teachers may not be prepared to handle sensitive issues, and the ministry has not provided clear information about how students will be supported after the survey. Isabelle Debré suggested including a contact number in the questionnaire, similar to the one used in her association's "respectomètre" tool, to ensure that children who report violence receive the necessary support. The ministry said that the trusted adult would refer students to appropriate services, but there are concerns about the capacity of these services to respond effectively. Sophie Vénétitay of the Snes-FSU highlighted the risk that students' written responses might trigger Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which requires teachers to report any knowledge of crimes or offenses. However, the procedures for handling such cases are unclear, and the independent commission on incest and sexual violence against children (Ciivise) warned that without proper support and safety measures, children could face further trauma. Estimates suggest that if the survey results are extrapolated, more than a million students could report experiencing gender-based violence, based on Ciivise's findings that 160,000 children are victims of incest or sexual violence annually. This has raised concerns about the readiness of schools and the justice system, especially given the low number of judges in France compared to other European countries. Sylvain Duyck of the Peep parents' association emphasized the need for collaboration with health professionals, social services, and child protection agencies to handle the potential influx of reports.