Benjamin*, a 33-year-old contractual teacher in the National Education system in the Versailles academy, had been working under fixed-term contracts for six years. He was hopeful of securing a permanent position after receiving positive evaluations. However, he has not been assigned a role for the new school year, and his contract has not been renewed. As a result, his seniority as a contractual agent is being reset to zero, which could significantly reduce his chances of obtaining a permanent post. He is now registered with France Travail, the French employment agency. The situation is not unique to Benjamin. According to union reports, 160 contractual teachers in the Versailles academy have been left without assignments for the current school year. Similar issues are being reported in other academies such as Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris, Poitiers, and Toulouse. Data from the CGT-Éduc'Action union indicates a significant reduction in contractual positions, with nearly 1,500 fewer roles across six academies in Metropolitan France. This decline is attributed to government decisions to cut teacher positions and reforms that have lowered the educational qualifications needed to enter teaching. The government has reduced the number of teacher positions by over 3,000 for the 2025 school year. Additionally, changes to the Capes and CRPE teacher certification exams now allow individuals with a bachelor's degree (bac+3) to qualify, rather than requiring a master's degree (bac+5). This has led to an increase in trainee teachers, who are given priority in job assignments over existing contractual agents. Laura*, a 33-year-old contractual teacher in Paris, was recently informed she would not be assigned a position for the new school year. This news forced her to move out of a new home she had just purchased, and she is now staying with a friend while she searches for a new place to live. Contractual teachers who are not French citizens face additional challenges. Nadia*, an Algerian English teacher in Paris, must renew her residence permit by the end of September. Without a contract, she is in a precarious position, as the French administration requires her to work in the field corresponding to her studies—English. However, she is currently without a teaching position. The Ministry of National Education has attributed the reduction in contractual positions to the return to school measures and the increase in trainee teachers. However, unions argue that the cuts are based on short-term economic considerations rather than long-term educational needs. Contractual agents make up 26% of the National Education system’s workforce but are often paid less than civil servants. They are seen by the government as an “adjustment variable,” meaning their employment can be more easily altered to meet budgetary needs. Unions argue that these workers have made significant contributions to the education system and should be recognized for their skills and experience. The financial uncertainty faced by contractual agents is also a concern, as their salaries often include multiple bonuses and part-time contracts, making it difficult to calculate unemployment benefits. Recent reforms to unemployment insurance have further complicated the situation for those without a position.