Schools prepare for strikes

SCHOOLS across the country could face disruption this week as a series of protests are planned by teachers.

Unions have called for a national strike on Thursday, while in other areas of the country (such as the Lot-et-Garonne) have walkouts planned for Wednesday.

In Paris nursery school services are already on strike over “better means” to carry out their services in the capital.

As well as unions, parents’ groups are organising school boycotts via social networks in protest at the new timetables.

In September some schools began to introduce new timetables after complaints from parents and teachers.

An extra half day of schooling on Wednesday or Saturday, previously scrapped by the Sarkozy government, was reintroduced alongside shorter teaching hours.

However its introduction has still met with opposition over the speed of the changes.

The Ministry of Education said that of the 3,223 communes that introduced the new timetable, there had been no problem among 93% of them.

Education Minister Vincent Peillon said : "There are still some problems. It’s a big reform, but things must change.”

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