The network of French school abroad is one of the most extensive educational systems in the world. Mainly managed by Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). Today, it comprises 612 accredited schools in 138 countries, catering for over 400,000 students from kindergarten to the end of secondary school. These schools offer the official curricula of the French national education system. They prepare students for the same diplomas as in France, and guarantee continuity of education for expatriate children, whatever their destination.
For teachers planning to teaching abroad. This network represents an extraordinary professional and human opportunity. It also means anticipating the realities of the field: contractual status, overall budget, social protection. This guide explains everything you need to know before applying.
- AEFE coordinates 612 schools in 138 countries, with three distinct types of school status.
- Seconded teachers have three types of status: expatriate, resident or local contract, with very different rights.
- Remuneration includes the usual indexed salary, supplemented by allowances that vary from country to country.
- Children’s school fees vary greatly depending on their destination, and there is assistance available for the families of seconded staff.
- Basic health cover has blind spots depending on status and country: international health insurance fills these gaps.
Understanding the network of French school abroad
Three types of plant, three realities
Not all the establishments in the network operate on the same model. Directly managed establishments (EGD) of which there are 68, are decentralized departments of the AEFE. They are fully managed by the French government, and staff are seconded directly to them. Approved establishments (around 162) are private structures linked to the AEFE by an administrative and educational agreement. Last but not least, approved partner establishments benefit from AEFE support in terms of training and expertise, but operate more autonomously.
For the teacher, this distinction is important: the status of the establishment has a direct influence on contractual conditions, remuneration levels and the nature of the social security cover offered.
The most popular destinations
The network covers almost the entire world, but some areas have a high density of establishments and strong competition for jobs. Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal), the Maghreb (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria) and the Near East (Lebanon, United Arab Emirates) attract a large number of applicants. Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Japan) and the Americas (Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil) round out the most popular destinations. Positions in certain African countries or in special-status zones remain less sought-after, with higher allowances at stake.
Expatriate, resident, local contract: three statuses with very different consequences
This is the most important distinction to understand before applying.
- Expatriate status concerns permanent civil servants from the French Ministry of Education recruited by the AEFE at national level, after at least two years of service in France. They receive their usual salary, plus an additional expatriation allowance depending on the country. Their French social security cover is maintained.
- The resident is also a member of the French national education system, but has already been living in the host country for at least three months at the time of recruitment. Their remuneration is generally lower than that of the expatriate.
- The local contract conditions vary from one establishment to another and from one country to another, sometimes very favorable, sometimes not. You should be vigilant before signing.
Budget management: what to plan before you leave
Remuneration and allowances by country
The remuneration of a teacher seconded to the AEFE consists of his or her gross indexed salary to which is added a geographical and specific duties allowance (IGFS) for residents for residents, or an expatriation allowance (IE) for expatriates. These amounts vary according to the country of assignment, and are revised quarterly. They are not published online, but the AEFE communicates them to invited candidates. Also worth noting: staff on secondment are entitled to a change-of-residence allowance (ICR) and, depending on the situation, a family allowance for each child.
To obtain a reliable estimate adapted to your situation, contact AEFE directly or consult specialized unions such as Sgen-CFDT.
Children's schooling: costs to be anticipated
The cost of sending children to a French lycée abroad is often the biggest item on an expatriate’s budget. Visit tuition fees vary considerably from country to country in some sub-Saharan African countries, but reach several thousand euros a year in Western Europe, and can exceed $20,000 a year in the United States.
There are a number of assistance schemes for French families: the scholarships from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs are means-tested. AEFE staff also benefit from special schooling conditions in the network’s establishments. Contact the AEFE as soon as your position has been confirmed.
Health insurance: a point often underestimated
Health care is the third pillar of your budget that should not be overlooked. Depending on your status and your host country, your level of protection varies greatly, and there are real gaps. A expatriate health insurance adapted represents a monthly cost that needs to be factored into your budget. It’s an investment, not an option: an uncovered hospitalization abroad can generate costs of tens of thousands of euros. The following section explains why.
Protecting your health and that of your family abroad
What your AEFE status really covers
Civil servants seconded to the AEFE retain their entitlement to basic French social security cover. Within the European area, this retention of rights works relatively smoothly. Outside Europe, the situation is more complex: reimbursements by the French health insurance scheme for treatment received abroad remain partial, and processing times can be long. Dental, optical and specialist care are rarely well covered. Medical repatriation is generally not included.
Mutual insurance policies taken out in France do not automatically follow the policyholder abroad, and cover may be suspended or greatly reduced depending on the contract. Before you leave, check the portability conditions of your current contract. If your coverage does not extend to your destination country, taking out international health insurance is the most direct way to leave with peace of mind.
Local contract: maximum exposure
Staff recruited under local contract do not benefit from the same rights as French nationals. Their coverage depends entirely on the host country’s healthcare system, the quality and accessibility of which vary considerably. In many countries, access to high-quality private care requires prior insurance cover. Without it, a medical emergency, prolonged hospitalization or repatriation can be prohibitively expensive.
International health insurance for the whole family
It’s against this backdrop that international health insurance plays a decisive role. It covers medical expenses from the 1st euro or in addition to your basic coverage, depending on the plan chosen, and covers hospitalization, routine care, optics, dental care and, depending on the contract, other medical expenses, medical repatriation and civil liability.
Mondassur advisors have been supporting expatriate teachers for over 20 years. Whether leaving alone or with their family, all teachers have access to formulas adapted to their destination, the duration of their contract and their status, whether seconded, resident or under local contract.
The health cover for expatriates extends to your spouse and children, both at home and on the move. It operates 24 hours a day, with medical assistance available in your language, anywhere in the world.
Preparing to leave also means protecting your future
Joining a French lycée abroad is a decision that involves much more than the professional sphere. It redefines family organization, finances and relationships with local healthcare systems. Teachers who prepare their departure rigorously, anticipating the blind spots in their social security coverage, approach this experience with a solid framework.
Get your free online quote in just a few minutes, and let our Mondassur advisors guide you towards the package best suited to your status, destination and family situation.
