12 Mar 2012

French Polynesia teachers call off strike

6:51 am on 12 March 2012

Schools in French Polynesia will resume this week after last Friday's indefinite strike was called off until further notice.

Teacher unions took action because the French education ministry announced that 177 teaching positions would be disestablished once the new school year starts in September.

The unions now say they're awaiting the outcome of talks in Paris between the ministry and a delegation which has left Papeete.

It includes the French Polynesian education minister, Tauhiti Nena, the French high commissioner, Richard Didier and the Tahiti-based vice rector.

The latter has reportedly been given extra police protection to the airport in Tahiti amid security concerns linked to the strike.

The announced cuts in French Polynesia are part of a planned France-wide cutback of 14,000 teaching jobs.