Rentrée today - strike next week
Back-to-school time for 12 million children in France, until next Monday and Tuesday when teachers are on strike
TWELVE million children go back to school this morning after the summer break - until next week, when teachers go on strike.
Unions representing France's 850,000 teachers are to stage their first strike of the academic year next Monday and Tuesday.
Secondary teachers' union Snes-FSU will walk out on Monday, affecting collèges and lycées around France.
All of the other unions will join the industrial action on Tuesday, September 7.
This second date coincides with a bigger, national day of industry-wide strike action that will bring disruption to many public services.
Teachers' unions are protesting against the government's pensions reforms and job cuts.
Some 16,000 jobs have been axed for the new academic year, on top of the 30,000 posts closed between 2007 and 2009. Another 16,000 cuts are planned next September.
Further details of the extent of the strike will be known on Monday morning. Check www.connexionfrance.com for the latest.
What's new this year
The new academic year brings with it a number of reforms.
The biggest changes are to the first year of lycée, called seconde. Large parts of the curriculum have been rewritten, and several key textbooks are not ready.
The lycée reform programme includes two hours a week of individual support for each pupil and catch-up courses to reduce the number of pupils having to repeat a year.
Also new this year is a change to the school routine in 124 collèges and lycées, with lessons in the morning and sport or cultural activities after lunch.
The experiment will see the school timetable spread out over six days - from Monday to Saturday - with fewer lessons each day.
The new arrangements will be watched closely to see what effect they have on pupils' health and school performance.
It comes after a number of reports criticised the packed schedule of lessons in a four-day week, which leaves children exhausted.
More inside the September edition of The Connexion:
Is discrimination not being tackled in schools?
Rentrée how to: enrolling, school buses, vaccinations and meals
Experiences of starting French school for the first time
What's new this year for lycée students
Is your child properly equipped and insured?
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