Teachers striking over collège plans

SEVEN trade unions representing secondary school teachers have called a strike today to protest about wide-ranging reforms to the collège curriculum.

The group, which represents about 80% of teachers in the affected sector, will hold demonstrations in 20 towns around France including Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux.

Among their complaints is a proposal to scrap bilingual classes and a possible end to the teaching of Latin.

In a poll this week by Les Echos, 60% of French people said the protest was justified.

Education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem put forward the latest version of her proposed reforms in March, after several weeks of planned discussions were boycotted by some unions.

UMP party vice-president Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, who wants the bill scrapped, told France Info: "I hope today's strike will be effective."