Over 500 Class Closures Hit Île-de-France

FSU-SNUipp said on May 20 that more than 500 primary-school classes are due to close across Île-de-France for the 2026-27 school year, making the Paris region the hardest hit in France under this year’s school map. The union said the figures came from departmental school-map decisions for primary education, where local education authorities set openings and closures ahead of the September term. The Education Ministry has defended closures nationally by pointing to falling pupil numbers. Unions say the scale of the cuts goes beyond demographic change and will weigh most heavily on already stretched areas. ### How large are the cuts in Île-de-France? Île-de-France is facing more than 500 net class closures, according to figures reported by Actu Paris from FSU-SNUipp’s departmental tallies. The biggest losses cited were in Seine-Saint-Denis, Paris and Val-de-Marne. Seine-Saint-Denis is set to lose 151 classes on a net basis, with 276 closures and 125 openings, Actu Paris reported, citing the union. Paris is expected to lose 142 classes, with 161 closures and 19 reopenings, while Val-de-Marne is expected to lose 91 classes, with 159 closures and 68 openings. (actu.fr) ### Why are these decisions being made now? The 2026 school map was prepared over several months and can be adjusted into June, according to RTL’s description of the process. The outlet said municipalities provide enrollment forecasts based on births, moves and housing projects, after which the Education Ministry allocates teaching posts and local education authorities decide class openings and closures. (actu.fr) The Education Ministry has linked the national round of closures to a decline in enrollment. France Inter reported that the ministry expects 120,000 fewer pupils in nursery and elementary schools at the next school year, while RTL reported a broader decline of 160,000 pupils across primary and secondary education, including 125,400 fewer in the first degree. (rtl.fr) ### Why is Seine-Saint-Denis drawing so much attention? Seine-Saint-Denis is the most affected department in Île-de-France and the third most affected in metropolitan France, behind Nord and Rhône, according to FSU-SNUipp figures reported by Actu Paris and France Inter. Actu Paris said the department is still experiencing population growth even as schools face cuts. (radiofrance.fr) FSU-SNUipp said the announced cuts hit territories already under pressure, including priority education zones. In a May 18 statement cited by Actu Paris, the union said the figures reflected “a deterioration of the public education service” in departments where needs are high and would worsen territorial inequalities. (actu.fr) ### How does this fit into the national picture? FSU-SNUipp said on May 18 that departmental school maps pointed to 5,914 class closures and 2,172 openings nationwide for the 2026 school year, a net loss of 3,742 classes in primary education. France Inter reported that the union said this was 60% higher than at the same point in 2025. (actu.fr) Aurélie Gagnier, the union’s general secretary, told France Inter that the closures would mean larger classes and more mixed-grade groupings. She said the reductions would affect both learning conditions for pupils and working conditions for staff. ### What are local unions and parents doing next? (radiofrance.fr) FSU-SNUipp 93 called for a strike and demonstration on May 21 in Bobigny over the Seine-Saint-Denis cuts, according to France Inter and Actu Paris. France Inter said protesters were due to gather at 1:30 p.m. outside the departmental education services office before marching to the Bobigny prefecture. (radiofrance.fr) Paris and Val-de-Marne union branches have also published departmental breakdowns of openings and closures tied to the 2026 school map. FSU-SNUipp Paris said final academy measures followed meetings on April 7 and May 12-13, while FSU-SNUipp 94 published its account of the April 1 departmental meeting. (75.snuipp.fr) (radiofrance.fr)