CLICHY — Teachers and staff at Newton High School in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, have launched a strike action this week, protesting significant budget cuts they say will cripple the school’s ability to serve its disadvantaged student body.
Four Teaching Jobs and 120 Hours at Risk
The mobilization began Tuesday following a departmental administrative committee decision on February 12. The committee announced the closure of two classes and a cut of 120 teaching hours for the next academic year—equivalent to losing four full classes. Staff warn this will lead directly to the elimination of four teaching positions.
“We are the high school hardest hit in Hauts-de-Seine, even though we have a disadvantaged student population that would, on the contrary, require more resources and the possibility of personalized support,” said Jeanne, an English teacher whose own job is threatened.
Consequences: Crowded Classrooms and Lost Support
According to striking staff, the cuts will force the end of smaller half-group classes, increase class sizes, and eliminate after-school homework help. Class sizes, currently at 30-31 students, could balloon further.
“The risk is that in the long run, we will get to 35 students per class, when already, today, we have classes that are dysfunctional,” Jeanne cautioned.
Following a meeting with a school delegation on Tuesday, the academic director agreed to restore 18 hours. Staff had requested 40 hours to maintain basic working conditions.
Staff Demands and Official Response
The staff’s core demands include:
- Restoring hours to reinstate half-group classes.
- Capping class sizes at 30 students, a standard already met in more affluent schools in the department.
- Creating an additional educational assistant position.
The Versailles Rectorate explained that the global hourly allocation is based on projected class numbers. It cited a demographic decline in the feeder middle schools and reduced numbers in current 11th-grade classes as reasons for cutting one 10th-grade and one 12th-grade general studies class.
The academic authority stated it is “particularly vigilant regarding the socio-economic profile of the high school” and that the allocation process is not yet finalized. Newton High’s situation will receive “particular monitoring,” with a possible reevaluation in June based on final enrollment numbers in language and specialty courses. Adjustments remain possible until September.
