France: a day of strike action in high schools
An interunion association grouping the largest unions representing secondary education, including four EI affiliates (SNES-FSU, FO, SNETAA-FO, CGT), is in conflict with the French government on the matter of the reform of high schools.
The reform, decided against the advice of teaching staff, reduces the time available for core subjects while promoting activities that make less time available for learning fundamental knowledge. It provides increased autonomy for school principals who will be able to decide whether or not to offer specific options, and creates competition between various subjects as they will have to compete for hours of lessons in small groups.
According to the unions, the worst part of the reform is that it will lead to complete disruption of teachers' work, leading to untenable schedules, endless meetings, with no benefit to the students' education. The interunion association has once again called for a strike on 17 September and, should the Minister refuse to open new negotiations, it will organize a national strike in October during which parents and teaching staff will be able to march together against the reform.
