Paris - Many classes in French primary and secondary schools were closed Thursday as teachers stayed away from their jobs to protest government plans to cut jobs.

Unions said that one of two secondary-school teachers and some 70 per cent of kindergarten and primary school-teachers were on strike Thursday.

To cut state costs, Education Minister Xavier Darcos has cut 11,200 jobs from the national education system and intends to slash another 13,500 positions next year.

Despite the scope of the job action, Darcos remained defiant on Thursday.

"The job cuts will continue," he told RTL radio, and defended himself against charges that the reduction in the number of teachers would hurt the education of French pupils.

"What counts is the way in which we organize ourselves, the services provided by the teachers, and not simply the number of teachers," he said. (dpa)