The National Teachers' Union has sharply criticised the Ministry of Education's "Alpha" literacy project, arguing it is too early to deem the French-language pilot programme a success and warning of long-term risks.

The president of the National Teachers' Union (SNE), Patrick Remakel, has expressed significant criticism of the government's "Alpha" pilot project for French-language literacy, warning that the reform is being rushed.

Speaking at the SNE's annual back-to-school press conference on Tuesday, Remakel cautioned, "We haven't given this reform enough time, and because of that, we risk running into a brick wall."

The union's primary concern is that it is too early to declare the project a success, arguing that a definitive assessment should only be made after students from the pilot schools have completed the entire curriculum from Cycle 1 through Cycle 4 and transitioned to secondary education.

Remakel stated that the Ministry of Education's positive interim assessment was unsurprising, noting that the current cohort of children learning literacy in French are those whose mother tongue is closer to French. While the SNE acknowledges this provides an initial advantage, Remakel questioned the long-term outcome, asking, "But where will these children be later, at the end of Cycle 4?"

Operationally, the SNE argues that running two parallel literacy programmes creates logistical challenges, making an already difficult timetable process even more complex. The union stated it would have preferred an alternative approach, giving individual schools the autonomy to choose between mixed classes or, where student numbers allow, creating separate classes for French-based and German-based literacy instruction.

On other topics, the SNE reiterated its demand for necessary resources to be deployed where they are most needed to support inclusion and children with special needs. The union also expressed its approval of the smartphone ban in primary schools, which was implemented after Easter.