FRANCE Some 200 demonstrators marched through Paris last week in support of foreign supply teachers and students who are being threatened with expulsion from the country.
The National Collective for the Defence of Foreign Auxiliary Teachers claims that many teachers, most of whom came to study before taking short-term contracts with the education ministry, are receiving “invitations” to leave the country following the tightening up of immigration laws and refusal by some local prefectures to renew work permits.
Foreign students and post-graduates have for years been recruited to fill posts lacking permanent or supply teachers of French nationality, notably in maths, science and technical subjects. But high unemployment has meant more people are being recruited to teaching and French supply teachers always have priority over foreigners. Ten per cent of auxiliaries are foreign.
