Teachers threaten strike as Tahiti schools reopen amid Covid-19

9:34 am on 8 September 2020

Teachers unions in French Polynesia are threatening to go on strike as the government pushes ahead with reopening public schools.

Schoolchildren wearing protective face masks arrive at the Taimoana Primary school in Papeete

Photo: AFP

Two public schools on Tahiti have been cleared to reopen on Monday after being closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. One school in Papeete will remain closed for the week.

The government said school attendance was compulsory, despite a still rising second wave.

The teachers unions are demanding tighter measures be adopted to deal with the pandemic.

Almost 700 Covid-19 cases have been recorded since borders reopened and international tourism resumed in July.