Mayotte Education Strike: Teachers Protest Pay Cuts & Job Losses

A strike is planned for Tuesday, February 3rd, with a rally scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM in front of the regional education authority. The action stems from widespread discontent within schools and educational institutions, exacerbated by the implementation of a government decree impacting the income of employees on sick leave in French overseas territories.

Widespread Discontent in Overseas Education

According to unions, the state of public education in Mayotte is currently critical. Issues include a lack of classrooms, dilapidated or dangerous facilities, a lack of potable water in some schools, students without access to schooling, and reduced or dismantled specialized support systems. These conditions create a challenging environment for educators and students alike.

The CFDT Mayotte Academy branch describes the situation as an “unprecedented crisis” that jeopardizes the future of students and degrades working conditions, asserting that the proper functioning of the public education service is now seriously compromised.

Staff Exhaustion and Precarity

Unions also highlight the exhaustion of staff, who face overcrowded classrooms, administrative insecurity, and a persistent climate of insecurity. Contract teachers, teaching assistants, and education assistants are particularly vulnerable, facing short-term contracts, modest pay, and a lack of recognition.

Recent anger among teachers has also been fueled by issues with unpaid or incomplete salaries, with some contract workers not receiving payment for weeks or months despite promises of rectification – a situation that previously led to protests.

Concerns Over Potential Job Cuts

Adding to the tension, the outlook for the 2026 school year is causing concern. The Minister of National Education, Édouard Geffray, recently announced nearly 3,300 job cuts in public education nationwide, officially justified by a demographic decline. This announcement is viewed as illogical in Mayotte, where educational needs remain immense and class sizes are among the highest in France.

Syndicates argue this budgetary approach risks worsening educational and territorial inequalities, while the state is regularly accused of underinvesting in the Mahorais school system.

The Triggering Decree

The primary driver of the February 3rd mobilization is the application of Decree No. 2024-641, dated June 27, 2024, concerning the rules for certain health-related leave for civil servants and state contract workers. This decree modifies the rules for compensation during sick leave, particularly for employees in the DROM (overseas departments and regions). It reclassifies the cost of living allowance as an indemnity, making it partially or fully deductible during certain leaves, including long-term sick leave.

The FSU-SNUipp sections in the DROM denounce the reform as a “double penalty for personnel in the DROM,” warning that “illness becomes a financial sanction.”

Impact on Income

In practice, sick employees are experiencing a sharp drop in income, even though the cost of living in Mayotte remains structurally high. Unions point to “a massive amputation of the indexation (cost of living allowance), leading to a brutal drop in wages, even though the cost of living remains structurally higher in the DROM.”

Another major point of contention is the retroactive effect of the decree. Some employees who were on sick leave in 2024 or 2025 have been asked to reimburse funds already received, sometimes months later, exacerbating their financial insecurity.

Unions argue this reform represents a clear break from the principle of equality between employees in mainland France and those in the Overseas Territories. A similar criticism has been raised at the national level, with a parliamentarian denouncing the measure as “arbitrary, discriminatory, and creating unequal treatment to the detriment of state employees in the overseas territories.”

Local Concerns in Mayotte

In Mayotte, the mobilization on February 3rd also includes local demands. The CFDT Mayotte Academy branch highlights the situation of foreign personnel, who are particularly numerous in the academy. The union emphasizes that “This proves unacceptable that Mayotte is the only French territory where the employment contract (CDD) is subject to the duration of the residence permit,” denouncing a local exception deemed unfair and contrary to the principle of republican equality.

SUD Éducation Mayotte also points to delays in salary payments, sometimes partial, affecting some teaching and administrative staff, as well as the precarious situation of universities facing budget deficits and increasing job insecurity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main reason for the strike?

The primary reason for the strike is the application of Decree No. 2024-641, which modifies the rules for compensation during sick leave, particularly impacting employees in the DROM by reclassifying the cost of living allowance.

What specific concerns are being raised in Mayotte?

In addition to the decree, concerns in Mayotte include the situation of foreign personnel whose contracts are tied to their residency permits, as well as delays in salary payments and the precarious financial state of universities.

What is the potential impact of the announced job cuts?

The announced cuts of nearly 3,300 positions in public education are seen as a negative development, potentially worsening educational inequalities and straining already limited resources in territories like Mayotte.

What role do you believe local context and national policy play in shaping the challenges faced by educators in overseas territories?