French Greens call for 15% increase in teachers’ pay

France’s Ecologists want to make primary education a central campaign issue, combining smaller classes with a five-year pay increase for teachers.

Marine Tondelier, the party’s leader and a presidential candidate, called for primary-school classes to be reduced to 19 pupils by 2032. In schools serving priority education areas, known as REP and REP+, the proposed limit would fall to 12 pupils.

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Primary school must become an absolute priority by reducing class sizes. In primary schools, to 19 pupils by 2032 and to 12 pupils in REP or REP+ schools.

The party also proposed increasing teachers’ salaries by 15% over five years, in addition to inflation. It presented the measure as part of an effort to restore the appeal of careers in the national education system.

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restore the appeal of careers in the national education system

Tondelier said schools should provide children with practical and creative learning that some may not have access to outside school. She named cooking, gardening, theatre, visual arts and music as examples.

The proposals came as teachers began the new school year, when other politicians were also outlining pay increases. Raphaël Glucksmann said he wanted to raise teachers’ salaries by at least 10%, while Édouard Philippe has advocated a 20% increase.

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Schools must include the teaching of practical knowledge such as cooking, gardening, theatre, visual arts and music, which not all children necessarily have the opportunity to experience outside school.