Paris teachers rebel against school reform

A majority of primary schools were closed on Tuesday in the French capital, as angry Paris-region teachers went on strike to protest against Governments' first major reform to the country’s school system.

The measure, which calls for reducing the amount of class time during the school day and adding an additional half-day on Wednesday, would go into effect in September 2013. In the current system, French primary schools operate on a four-day schedule, with no classes on Wednesday.

Striking teachers say the reform does nothing to improve the quality of education for children, and will simply force teachers to spend more time at the workplace with no compensation.