The French government has accused the conservative opposition of “taking the country’s children hostage” ahead of next year’s local elections, amid a growing row over primary school reforms intended take the strain off younger pupils who have some of the longest school days in the world, reports FRANCE 24.
The opposition UMP has called on disgruntled local authorities to refuse to cooperate with the government’s plans to reinstate school on Wednesdays and shorten the amount of time children spend in class on other days.
On Tuesday, French President François Hollande held a cabinet meeting to review the first month of the new system, which was implemented at a small number of schools at the beginning of September.
After the meeting Education Minister Vincent Peillon insisted the government was unfazed by opposition interference and insisted that the reforms would go ahead.
“We are aware that certain people want to exploit them for political ends,” he added.
Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.