An Education Department strike is taking place this Tuesday, February 17, 2026, involving teachers across the entire Île-de-France region. Led by a united inter-union education coalition (FSU, SNUipp-FSU, Snes-FSU, SE-Unsa, FO, CFDT, CGT, and SUD), this day of protest specifically targets the academies of Paris, Créteil, and Versailles. The actions include nationwide closures or partial shutdowns of schools, classes canceled in middle schools and high schools, and a demonstration heading towards the Ministry of National Education. This day is set to be a significant show of discontent.
This mobilization stems from the allocation of resources for the 2026 school year and, most notably, the job cuts announced at the end of January during the government’s ministerial council. Unions estimate that between 3,256 and 4,000 teaching positions will be eliminated in public education, including roughly 1,891 in primary education (preschool and elementary) and 1,365 in secondary (middle and high school). These figures are deeply troubling for the unions, and it's easy to see why. The Île-de-France academies are expected to be particularly hard-hit by these reductions, with an increase in class closures already underway and growing difficulties in finding substitutes among teachers.
In Seine-Saint-Denis (93), France’s poorest department where 62% of middle schools are classified as priority education zones, the situation is particularly grim: the department is set to welcome 550 additional students by the 2026 school year, according to unions. The SNES-FSU Créteil condemns what it describes as “a disgraceful policy and unacceptable choices affecting schools.” Meanwhile, in Val-de-Marne (94), SNUipp-FSU 94 highlights a persistent shortage of auxiliary school staff (AESH), with demand far outstripping the number of positions announced at the national level.
So, what should you really expect this Tuesday? For
The situation is a bit more uncertain. Teachers at the secondary level are not required to declare a strike in advance, so schools often don't know ahead of time which staff members will be absent. As a result, some classes may be canceled or schedules disrupted. For families of students with disabilities, it’s advisable to check in advance about the availability of AESH support and the arrangements for inclusive education.
The collective union demands are clear: cancel the staff cuts, allocate a budget that matches the needs, reduce class sizes to 20 students (16 in priority education zones), create new positions for CPEs, AESH, and medical-social staff, and overhaul the distribution of resources in priority education. The organizations also oppose the “College Progress Plan,” which they feel places undue blame on teaching staff. Additionally, the union has requested a meeting with the Minister to present their demands, as outlined by CGT Éduc’action Versailles.
In addition to the strike, a regional protest is scheduled for this Tuesday in Paris. Participants are called to gather at 1 p.m. in front of the Sorbonne, in the 5th arrondissement. The demonstration will then march towards the Ministry of National Education, on Rue de Grenelle, in the 7th arrondissement. Expect some traffic disruptions in the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés areas during the early afternoon. For more details on the route, please refer to our dedicated article.
Strike in Île-de-France's Education Sector this Tuesday: A Look at the Protest Route Through Paris
At the call of the union coalition, educators across Île-de-France are set to strike regionally and march through Paris this Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The demonstration will gather at 1 p.m. in front of the Sorbonne. Explore the route of this regional protest within the Education sector. [Read more]
In short, if you're a parent of a student in Ile-de-France, it's advisable to check your town's official website or get in touch directly with your child's school to find out about the arrangements for this Tuesday.
