French teachers strike over job cuts and low pay

According to Euronews, thousands of teachers across France walked off the job Tuesday in a nationwide strike protesting planned job cuts, stagnant wages and worsening classroom conditions, unions said. The action, part of a broader “week of mobilisation,” highlights growing anger within the education sector as the government prepares to eliminate thousands of positions for the 2026 academic year.

Union estimates suggest around 30% of teachers participated, with particularly strong turnout in primary schools, where roughly one in three educators joined the strike. Participation was reported across major cities including Marseille, Lyon and Paris, where demonstrators marched to the Ministry of Education. However, official figures from the Education Ministry placed overall participation significantly lower, at just under 10%.

At the heart of the dispute are plans to cut approximately 4,000 teaching jobs, alongside ongoing concerns about class closures and insufficient pay. Unions argue that the education system is already under strain and warned that further reductions will exacerbate overcrowding and undermine efforts to improve student outcomes.

The government has defended the cuts as a response to declining student numbers, noting a sharp drop in primary school enrolment in recent years. Officials say the demographic shift allows for adjustments without significantly harming educational quality, though they acknowledge the need to manage the transition carefully.

Teachers’ unions reject that argument, insisting that falling enrolment should instead be used to improve learning conditions, particularly by reducing class sizes and increasing support for students. They also point to low wages and challenging working conditions, especially for support staff and contract workers, as key issues driving dissatisfaction.

Further demonstrations are expected throughout the week as negotiations between unions and the government remain tense.