French teachers launched a nationwide strike on Thursday to express their anger at the way the government is handling the spread of the COVID-19 virus in schools, denouncing muddled rules and calling for more protection.
Exhausted by the pressures of the surging COVID-19 cases, a large majority of teachers were expected to support the call of 11 unions to protest against virus-related classroom disruptions and ever-changing isolation rules.
The unions organized a street demonstration in downtown Paris on Thursday afternoon.
France is at the epicenter of Europe’s current fight against COVID-19, with new infections exceeding 360,000 per day this week, driven by the highly contagious variant Omicron. Teachers are upset and want clarification on the rules and more protection, like masks and extra tests to help cope with the stress.
“The month of January is a difficult month (for schools)”, admitted the Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer on the France 2 channel. His ministry counted 50,000 new cases of COVID-19 among the students these “Last days” and a large number of classes have closed because of the virus, or 10,553. The numbers are expected to worsen in the coming weeks.
Unions estimated that 62% to 75% of teachers supported the protest movement, depending on the school they are assigned to. The government said 27% of teachers were on strike.
The Unitary National Union of Teachers, School Teachers and PEGC (SNUIPP) affirms that discontent is mounting among French teachers. Since January 6, authorities have already imposed two changes to the rules on testing schoolchildren.
“The situation since the start of the January school year has created an indescribable mess and a strong sense of abandonment and anger among school staff,” the union said.
The SNUIPP calls for a return to a previous rule which closes classes for a week if a child is tested positive.
Teachers are also demanding better quality masks, more testing in schools, and devices in classrooms that warn when ventilation is needed.
The strike comes after French senators approved a bill requiring adults to provide proof of vaccination to enter restaurants and bars, cinemas, theaters, museums, stadiums and interregional trains. Instead, unvaccinated children between the ages of 12 and 17 may test negative.
The measure will enter into force when Parliament approves the legislation by next week.