Lea Guedj, Ingrid Melander

PARIS (Reuters) – French teachers walked out of their jobs on Thursday due to the inability to implement a consistent policy to schools regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and to protect students and staff from it.

Parents, teachers and administrators struggled with the announcement of new testing requirements on Christmas Eve and subsequent changes.

Elisabeth Allain Moreno, the national secretary for the SE-UNSA Teachers Union, stated that “we had reached such an exasperation and tiredness and anger that it was impossible to have any other choice but to organize a strike in order to send a strong signal to the government.”

The unions stated that they expected many schools to close on Thursday, and that large numbers of teachers (including 75% in primary schools) would join the strike. Unions representing school administrators, inspectors, and other staff members have joined the strike.

After reversing an older policy that had seen classes closed quickly for positive coronavirus cases due to a lack of response, the government has maintained its commitment to keeping classes open. However, it said some complication was necessary.

It’s hard, I know. But a strike doesn’t solve problems. Jean-Michel Blanquer, Education Minister, stated to BFM TV that one does not strike against viruses.

Schools have seen an increase in infections. France is the country with more than 370,000 cases per day. Staff and students can be sent to pharmacy and labs in order to test for positive cases.

Eleven unions issued a joint statement stating that the “exhaustion and frustration of all educational communities have reached an unparalleled level”.

The minister and government are responsible for this chaos situation. There have been incessant shifts in footing and unworkable protocols. It is impossible to ensure that schools can operate properly.