French teachers embark on strike

French teachers staged a mass strike that could close half of schools in protest against the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.

The nationwide strike could be the biggest in decades as 11 unions representing teachers, parents and other school staff vents their anger at the government’s Covid policies.

The unions said the government and the education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, were to blame for what they called a chaotic situation in schools.

The main trigger for the strike was France’s health protocol, which has been changed a number of times since December.