“47% of middle and high school staff are on strike,” announces Snes-FSU

For its part, the Ministry of Education lists an average rate of striking teachers of 20.26%.

The mobilization is there. Teachers are mobilizing to “send a warning” to the government on working conditions, salaries and public schools. Several demonstrations are planned throughout France.

“47% of middle and high school staff are on strike, more than one in two teachers in middle schools where anger is very strong due to the reform of knowledge shocks”, said Thursday February 1 on franceinfo Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSU, while teachers are called to strike on Thursday. For its part, the Ministry of Education lists an average rate of striking teachers of 20.26%. In nursery and elementary schools, the ministry announces an average rate of striking teachers of 20.11% and in middle and high schools, an average rate of striking teachers of 20.40%.

While Gabriel Attal wishes to set up level groups in French and mathematics for the sixth and fifth grades, the anger of teachers has been fueled by the recent declarations of their minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra on the subject of public schools: “The minister is completely disqualified from dealing with these fundamental questions which are the future of the public education service,” explained Sophie Vénétitay.

The minister’s apologies will not change anything: “For three weeks she has been mired in controversies, in real false apologies, in cases that come out every day. It’s a real obstacle course. She may not get the medal. Olympic gold than in the obstacle course, but I’m not sure that she reaches the end of the race because she seems so hampered in the way she exercises her ministry”she explained.

“Wages are not high enough”

Sophie Vénétitay claimse “a full-time minister for National Education. We cannot have a part-time minister who does the Olympic Games in the morning, the Paralympic Games in the evening and in the middle of all that, perhaps a little national education”, she quipped. During his general policy speech, Gabriel Attal only “recycle announcements that he had already been able to make”, according to her.

“And above all, these are announcements which are completely disconnected from our daily lives, overcrowded classes, teachers not replaced.”

Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSU

on franceinfo

“We still have difficulty recruiting because salaries are not high enough. The presidential promise has not even been kept and the figures are alarming”she worries. “For the 2024 session, there are 38% fewer candidates registered for the teachers’ competition compared to 2019”she indicated.