Students across France took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding urgent reforms to the national education system. Demonstrations in Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Marseille and Nantes forced the closure of more than half of the country’s high schools, according to the Education Ministry.
Scale of the protests
The Interior Ministry reported that about 86,000 people gathered outside Paris in the morning, with additional crowds forming for an afternoon rally. Police said 6,100 arrests have been made since the protests began in September, and at least 715 officers and 215 teenagers have been injured.
Student grievances
Students highlighted dilapidated classrooms lacking basic furniture, overheating rooms without air conditioning, and even rat infestations. They also cited chronic staff shortages and demanding schedules, noting that French high school students face some of the longest compulsory classroom hours in Europe.
“We want more money for the national educational system so that high schools are renovated,” said Roberta, a recent high school graduate from Paris.
Government response
Prime Minister Sébastien Lécornu instructed ministers to address the demands, including repairs to aging school buildings, longer lunch breaks, and a review of the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. school day. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez defended the police response as proportionate in “almost all cases,” while critics called the tactics excessive.
Felix Barney, a university student, told The Associated Press that the police response was disproportionate, stating, “It doesn’t have any sense to hit minors.”
Violence and injuries
In Lens, a 15-year-old who picked up a police dispersal grenade suffered the loss of his hand and part of his lower arm when the device detonated. Authorities have shut schools in an effort to diffuse tensions after widespread damage and injuries among staff, students and police.
Classes were either fully or partially suspended at 891 schools on Tuesday, according to the Education Ministry.
International commentary
President Donald J. Trump commented on Truth Social, linking the unrest to broader concerns about immigration and cultural change, though the protests are rooted in education policy grievances.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
