João is a pupil at a state high school. He wants to come to class with a big cross on his jumper, so that it is clearly seen. Is he allowed to?
A situation written by this course (the exam's situations are not published), with its answer explained in English.
On exam day, in French
João est élève dans un lycée public. Il veut venir en classe avec une grande croix sur son pull, pour qu’elle soit bien vue. A-t-il le droit ?
- ANon, un signe religieux porté pour être vu est interdit.No, a religious symbol worn to be seen is forbidden.Correct answer
- BOui, si ses parents donnent leur accord écrit.Yes, if his parents give their written consent.
- COui, la laïcité protège tous les signes au lycée.Yes, secularism protects all symbols at high school.
- DNon, les élèves n’ont pas le droit de croire en une religion.No, pupils do not have the right to believe in a religion.
Explanation
In state primary schools, middle schools and high schools, the law forbids wearing a religious symbol with the intention of being seen. João is free to believe, but he cannot wear this cross clearly visible at high school.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Yes, if his parents give their written consent. — The parents' consent does not change the rule: the law forbids this symbol worn to be seen in state high schools.
- C. Yes, secularism protects all symbols at high school. — Secularism protects the freedom to believe. But at a state high school, a religious symbol worn to be seen is forbidden.
- D. No, pupils do not have the right to believe in a religion. — Secularism protects the freedom to believe or not to believe in a religion. What is forbidden is wearing a religious symbol so that it is seen.
Principle at stake: Secularism at school — 2004 law on religious symbols
French words to remember
- signe religieuxreligious symbol
- laïcitésecularism
- lycée publicstate high school
Official sources (in French)
Histoire de la laïcité › Les dates clés depuis la loi de 1905 — Ministère de l'Intérieur (DIAN), formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr · 20 octobre 2026
« En 2004, une loi interdit dans les écoles, collèges et lycées publics de porter, avec l’intention d’être vu, un signe ou un vêtement qui montre une appartenance à une religion. »
La laïcité à l'école (1/2) › La neutralité de l’école publique — Ministère de l'Intérieur (DIAN), formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr · 20 octobre 2026
« Parmi ses règles, il est interdit de porter un signe ou un vêtement qui montre sa religion de manière ostensible, c’est-à-dire de manière à être vu. »
« La laïcité garantit la liberté de conscience et protège la liberté de croire ou de ne pas croire en une religion. »
Independent course, not affiliated with the French Ministry of the Interior.The exam itself is only in French. The English explanations are AI translations, checked by an independent chain (translation, review, blind check against the French sources); no human translator has reviewed them yet.
Page updated on 22 octobre 2026 (date in French format). All questions explained in English