France Faces Nationwide Teachers' Strike on March 31 Over Budget Cuts

Teachers across France are preparing to strike on March 31 in response to the government's plan to cut 4,000 teaching positions for the 2026 school year. Despite a projected 19% decrease in school-age children by 2034, the government continues pursuing these cuts, prompting strong opposition from teacher unions including the FSU, Unsa, CFDT, CGT, and SUD. Union representatives argue that these measures neglect the actual needs of public education and could negatively impact the quality of schooling.

The strike is expected to significantly affect primary education, with around 30% of primary school teachers anticipated to participate according to Aurélie Gagnier from Snuipp-FSU. Some schools may close as a result, leading to disruption for students and families.

In Périgueux, the strike will lead to the closure of 13 classes across public primary schools: 9 at Clos-Chassaing, 2 at the Lys school, and 2 at André Boissière. To mitigate the impact, the city has organized a Minimum Reception Service (Service Minimum d’accueil) to care for children whose teachers are on strike and whose parents lack alternative childcare options. Registered children will be supervised by extracurricular animators in elementary schools and ATSEM staff in kindergartens, with prior sign-up required through municipal education services.

This action is part of a larger week of protests challenging the government's budget choices for education. Teacher unions criticize these decisions as prioritizing budget cuts over the welfare and resources needed in schools. The strikes highlight tensions between government fiscal policies and educators’ demands for adequate staffing and support.

The situation remains fluid, with further developments expected as the strike approaches and participation levels become clearer. The national teachers' strike exemplifies widespread dissatisfaction in the education sector regarding the future allocation of resources and the impact on schools across France.