Teachers strike for education reforms

A primary school in France holds an art class. (File photo)

Teachers in France have walked out, resulting in the closure of most primary schools across the country, over plans for a five-day working week.

Children in primary schools had a day off on Tuesday as their teachers decided to protest against the government’s proposal to make children attend a half-day class on Wednesdays, which would go into effect in September.

Hundreds of teachers in Paris on Tuesday staged a rally that will end at Paris City Hall.

Teachers complain of the excessive working hours and that the addition of the extra day to their four-day working week, would have no financial gain.

Jerome Lambert of the National Union of Primary and Secondary School Teachers (SNUipp-FSU) said the teachers, most of whom supported President Francois Hollande’s election, have expressed disappointment in the Socialist government’s approach to improving education.

“What the Socialist government is offering has nothing to do with the big promises that were made. Nothing they’re offering is good,” said a teacher in Paris taking part in the strike.

Teachers said the education reform “neglects the real problems” of overcrowded classrooms with “not enough teachers with specialized training to deal with the kids with learning difficulties.”

Hollande’s scheme aims to improve education in the country by increasing one of the shortest school years in Europe and decreasing the amount of hours spent at school per day.

Teachers overwhelmingly voted in favor of Hollande in the May 6, 2012 presidential election, as the president had promised to improve the school system across the nation and to provide additional spending on education.

GVN/PKH