French teachers threaten exam boycott over bac reforms

Teachers have threatened to boycott the first tranche of baccalaureate exams, which are due to start next week, in protest at what unions have described as the government's 'ill-prepared' reforms.

They will refuse to supervise or correct history, geography, modern languages and mathematics bacs - the reform of which are at the heart of the dispute, and which start on Monday and are to take place over the next six weeks in high schools across France.

This set of exams account for 30% of a student’s final mark.

Some schools were closed Thursday with many teachers opposed to the bac reforms also protesting against planned pensions changes.

The new baccalaureate was introduced for the 2018-19 academic year. Further changes will take effect from 2021.

It will replace the broad subject areas pupils currently choose from – science, literature or social sciences – with more specific courses.