The decision follows a serious incident in early February 2025, where a 17-year-old student was gravely injured by a knife at a school in Bagneux, Hauts-de-Seine.

Borne stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, 'It is absolutely necessary to act' in addressing the growing prevalence of weapons among youth.

In response to rising violence, over twenty colleges and high schools in Seine-Saint-Denis were recently placed under police surveillance, with 100 officers deployed to prevent further incidents.

Checks will occur outside the school during student arrival times, with no bodily searches involved, to maximize effectiveness.

Borne emphasized the need for collaboration with local authorities to regularly conduct these searches at school entrances.

French Education Minister Élisabeth Borne announced that random bag searches for weapons will be implemented in schools starting in Spring 2025 to combat rising violence.

The proposed changes aim to enhance safety measures in schools, including mandatory reporting to the prosecutor's office whenever a student is caught with a weapon.

This initiative comes in response to a notable increase in stabbings among students, which Borne acknowledged have become 'much more common'.

Under the new rules, any student found with a weapon will automatically face disciplinary council proceedings, reversing the previous discretionary approach by school principals.

The primary goal of these searches is to confiscate weapons, particularly knives, amid increasing concerns over their usage among youth.

These searches will be conducted by law enforcement officials, as current regulations do not allow school staff to search students' bags.

The specific schools where these searches will occur will be determined in consultation with local authorities, including prosecutors and school principals.