Secrétariat Général de l’Enseignement catholique

What Secrétariat Général de l’Enseignement catholique does

The Secrétariat Général de l'Enseignement catholique (SGEC) is a non-profit association constituted under the French law of 1901 and headquartered at 277 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris. Operating under the spiritual authority of the Conference of Bishops of France, it functions as the national coordination body for Catholic education, working through 98+ diocesan directions to represent and support a network of schools spanning nursery through higher education, including professional, agricultural, and specialized tracks.

The organization's core products and services include the Annuaire Gabriel directory of Catholic schools, the ECmag publication for educational stakeholders, the Scolidarité solidarity and prévoyance program (formerly UNPEC), the Label Ouverture Internationale certification for internationally oriented establishments, and the 3PF protection program covering students, families, and personnel. Supporting infrastructure includes a video library, webinars, podcasts, and an initiatives platform for diocesan-level project coordination. The broader ecosystem integrates FORMIRIS for teacher training, iniSia for international coordination, APEL Nationale for parent associations, and CEE for educational methodology.

SGEC's business model is structured as a non-profit funded through member contributions from diocesan directions and establishments, Scolidarité prévoyance premiums covering 40,000+ members, ECmag and publication revenue, and grants supporting solidarity initiatives such as Espoir Irak. Individual schools set their own tuition; SGEC itself does not collect tuition centrally. The organization does not disclose financial results and operates under regulatory recognition as participating in France's public education service under contract with the State.

Name

Secrétariat Général de l’Enseignement catholique

Legal name

Secrétariat Général de l'Enseignement catholique

Website

https://enseignement-catholique.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SGEC is the French national non-profit coordination body for Catholic education, working under the Conference of Bishops to support thousands of schools across all educational levels through diocesan directions, solidarity programs, publications, and certification schemes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Network Coordination Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), K–12/School & District Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAE), Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

Keywords

• Catholic education coordination
• School network administration
• Educational publishing services
• Teacher training programs
• International education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Secrétariat Général de l'Enseignement catholique is the national non-profit coordination body for Catholic education in France, administering the network of Catholic schools across all levels from nursery through lycée. It provides diocesan coordination, pedagogical resources, teacher training (via FORMIRIS), international exchange programs (via the iniSia network), and solidarity/prévoyance services to families (via Scolidarité), funded through membership contributions, tuition at member establishments, publication sales, and donations.

Product overview

The Secrétariat Général de l'Enseignement catholique operates a comprehensive digital ecosystem serving the French Catholic education network. The core infrastructure includes the Annuaire Gabriel directory for locating establishments, combined with the Plateforme des Initiatives for sharing educational innovations. Key services include Scolidarité (social solidarity/prévoyance), the Label Ouverture Internationale certification program, and the iniSia international solidarity network. Content distribution occurs through ECmag magazine, video libraries, webinars, and podcasts. Additional programs include 3PF (protection of vulnerable populations), Espoir Irak international solidarity, job board services, and VAE validation services. The offering functions as a multi-platform information and coordination hub for Catholic education stakeholders rather than a single unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Scolidarité: The solidarity association (formerly UNPEC) providing financial support and scholarships to families in need and to students from modest backgrounds in Catholic schools, also offering aid during natural disasters.
• Label Ouverture Internationale
• iniSia

Products and services

• Annuaire Gabriel Online directory platform that enables families and educators to search and locate Catholic educational establishments and administrative structures across France.
• ECmag Magazine Subscription-based magazine covering news and developments in Catholic education in France, distributed via the EC-boutique online store.
• Scolidarité (formerly UNPEC) Prévoyance and mutual-aid service providing financial assistance, scholarships, and insurance-related support to families in need and students in Catholic schools, managed in partnership with Saint-Christophe Prévoyance.
• Label Ouverture Internationale Three-level certification program recognizing and encouraging international opening initiatives in Catholic educational establishments, covering mobility, language certification, and intercultural dialogue.
• Réseau iniSia International solidarity network promoting and coordinating international development projects, educational exchanges, and student solidarity initiatives (such as the Trophées iniSia) among Catholic educational establishments.
• VAE - Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience Service platform enabling validation of prior learning and professional experience for career development within Catholic education.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scolidarité (formerly UNPEC)coreOthersScolidarité is the solidarity and prévoyance (insurance) organization of the Catholic education network, providing financial assistance to families in difficulty, education scholarships for families who lost a breadwinner, and emergency aid during natural disasters. It has approximately 40,000 members and manages solidarity funds of over 120,000 euros annually.
• FORMIRIScoreOthersFORMIRIS is the national organization for continuous training and professional development of teachers in Catholic education. It coordinates training programs and supports educator professional development across the network.
• iniSia NetworkcoreOthersiniSia is the international solidarity network of the Enseignement catholique, promoting and coordinating international development projects and educational exchanges among Catholic schools. It organizes events like Trophées iniSia to recognize student solidarity initiatives.
• Espoir IrakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation with APEL nationale (parent association) to support Christian education in Iraq, funding school construction projects through Œuvre d'Orient and Aide à l'Église en Détresse, with pedagogical tools for sensitizing French students to the situation.
• Conference of French Bishops (CEF)coreOthersThe Enseignement catholique operates under the spiritual authority of the French Catholic bishops. The CEF provides oversight and support for Catholic education through its permanent council.
• APEL NationalecoreOthersThe national association of parents of students in Catholic schools, working collaboratively on initiatives like Espoir Irak, school safety, and representing parent interests in educational policy.
• Saint-Christophe PrévoyanceminorOthersInsurance provider managing the prévoyance (life/health insurance) contract for Scolidarité, contributing to the solidarity fund that helps maintain students in Catholic education.
• UGSELminorOthersUnion Générale Sportive de l'Enseignement Libre - the sports federation for Catholic schools, organizing athletic competitions and promoting sports among students.
• CNEAPminorOthersNational Council of Private Agricultural Education - represents Catholic agricultural schools and coordinates international cooperation in agricultural education.
• CEE (Catholic Education Europe)coreOthersEuropean-level Catholic education organization facilitating cooperation, mobility, and solidarity among Catholic schools across Europe.
• OIEC (Office International de l'Enseignement Catholique)coreOthersInternational Catholic education office coordinating Catholic school networks worldwide, organizing world congresses and promoting Catholic education globally.
• APLMminorOthersEducational technology and digital resource partner for Catholic schools.
• CIC (Crédit Industriel et Commercial)minorOthersBanking partner providing financial services to the organization.
• HUMANISminorOthersSocial protection and insurance partner for the organization.
• SODEXOminorOthersCatering and food services partner for school meal programs.
• UNIPREVOYANCEminorOthersProvidence and insurance partner contributing to employee and institutional protection programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Education Europe (CEE): European-level Catholic education organization facilitating cooperation and mobility among Catholic schools across Europe. Directly comparable as a regional coordination peer, and an active partner of SGEC.
• UGSEL: Union Générale Sportive de l'Enseignement Libre, the sports federation for Catholic schools in France. Comparable as a specialized member-organization operating within the same Catholic education network.
• FORMIRIS: National organization for continuous training and professional development of teachers in Catholic education in France. A core partner organization providing workforce development services to the same network SGEC coordinates.
• Office International de l'Enseignement Catholique (OIEC): International Catholic education office coordinating Catholic school networks worldwide, with which SGEC has a core partnership. Directly comparable as a Catholic education coordination/governance organization, operating at international level.
• CNEAP: National Council of Private Agricultural Education representing Catholic agricultural schools and coordinating international cooperation in agricultural education. A comparable specialized network organization within the broader Catholic education ecosystem.
• National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA): U.S. national organization serving Catholic elementary and secondary schools through advocacy, professional development, and resource sharing. Comparable mission and function as a national Catholic education coordination body.
• Catholic Education Service (England & Wales): National secretariat coordinating Catholic schools across England and Wales under the bishops' authority. Directly comparable as a national governance and coordination body for Catholic education in another country.

Broad incumbents

• APEL Nationale: National association of parents of students in Catholic schools, working collaboratively with SGEC on initiatives like Espoir Irak and school safety. Comparable as a complementary stakeholder organization within the same Catholic education ecosystem.
• Conférence des Évêques de France (CEF): The Conference of French Bishops providing spiritual oversight of SGEC and Catholic education in France. Comparable as a higher-level ecclesiastical governance body under which SGEC operates.

Regional players

• Secrétariat Général de l'Enseignement Catholique (Belgium equivalent): Belgian counterpart secretariat coordinating Catholic education in Belgium under similar bishops' authority structure. Comparable as a geographic peer performing essentially the same national coordination function in a neighboring country.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/enscatho
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsCH74NmVfVSRqU7z6OsEKw
• Facebookfacebook.com/enseignementcatholiquefrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/enseignement-catholique-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/enseignementcatholiquefrance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Secrétariat Général de l’Enseignement catholique