Innovative Solution: Sheep Enrolled to Preserve Village School

Tuesday 14 May 2024 - 14:50

In a resourceful move to prevent the closure of their local school, parents in the Moselle region of eastern France have taken an unconventional approach: enrolling four sheep as students. The school, serving the villages of Hermelange, Nitting, and Voyer, faced the prospect of losing a class due to declining enrollment numbers.

With only 94 students projected for the upcoming academic year, the school fell short of the required number to maintain all five classes. Unwilling to let their educational institution suffer, the determined parents devised a novel solution: bolstering the student body with some woolly classmates.

By officially registering four local sheep, John Deere, Valériane Deschamps, Phil Deschamps, and Marguerite Duprès, the school's enrollment figures were bolstered to 98, ensuring the continuation of all five classes.

According to reports from the French media outlet BFMTV, the parents meticulously filled out registration forms for each new "pupil," complete with dates of birth and parents' names. These forms were then forwarded to the town hall and subsequently to the National Education Department.

In a unique twist, the four woolly students will be treated like any other learner, with their names appearing on roll calls and granted access to the schoolyard thanks to a special municipal decree.

This innovative approach highlights the lengths to which parents are willing to go to secure quality education for their children. While unconventional, the enrollment of these ovine pupils has captured the imagination of many, showcasing the ingenuity and determination of a community dedicated to preserving their local educational institution.