Students at the Hélène Boucher high school in the northeastern Paris suburb fortified the building with garbage bins on Thursday, demanding increased funding for schools. Police responded with tear gas and a water cannon, underscoring the escalating tension in France’s education protests.
Local flashpoint amid a national movement
The Paris school has become a focal point for clashes, joining hundreds of other schools disrupted by student demonstrations across the country. Riot police gathered on side streets as students, many wearing surgical masks or hoodies to avoid identification, converged on the campus.
At least a dozen related demonstrations were scheduled for later in the day, including a rally at Place de la Bastille in Paris. Police again used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse crowds there.
Scale of the unrest
According to the French Interior Ministry, authorities have made more than 6,600 arrests since the protests began in late September. The Education Ministry reported that 375 schools were fully or partially closed on Thursday, a slight decline from Tuesday but still a significant disruption.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu addressed the nation, lamenting the “violence, students and staff being attacked, police officers and gendarmes injured, schools set on fire or vandalized, thousands of hours of classes lost, not to mention threats and insults.” He criticized political leaders who he said were using the unrest for electoral gain as France prepares for a presidential election in April.
Student voices and concerns
Emma Khelil, an 18‑year‑old university student who returned to support her former high school, told the Associated Press she is “concerned about police violence.” She also highlighted the school’s dilapidated conditions, noting insulation problems, water leaks and even sightings of rats.
“We’re here to defend our rights, not to lose an eye or a hand,” Khelil said, adding that the movement’s momentum is unlikely to wane without substantive change.
Sofia Ferdials, an 18‑year‑old student at Paris 8 University, pledged to keep protesting through the fall if necessary, while librarian Dounia Gergeon, 39, joined the demonstration out of solidarity with students and concern for a broader crisis affecting young people.
International echoes
Similar student unrest is spreading beyond France. In Belgium, mayor Willy Demeyer of Liège imposed a ban on public gatherings until October 16, citing a “real, serious and imminent risk” of further clashes. Belgian police also used water cannons and tear gas, arresting nearly 90 people.
In Italy, students in Turin, Rome and Naples have occupied schools to protest building conditions, education funding and, in Naples, a planned migrant detention center.
Implications for the upcoming election
The protests add pressure on outgoing President Emmanuel Macron as France heads toward a presidential election in April. Critics argue that the unrest could influence voter sentiment, especially among young voters who feel their educational needs are being ignored.
While the French government emphasizes public order, many participants view the demonstrations as a necessary stand for better schools, smaller class sizes and adequate staffing—issues that have long plagued the nation’s education system.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
