French High School Students Vow to Continue Protests Despite Government Promises
Thestandard · 2 SOURCES1 day ago3 MIN
Summary
High school students across France were preparing for a fresh day of protests on Thursday, despite government efforts to ease the crisis which has rocked the country for days. Students have blocked entrances to hundreds of high schools for 15- to 17-year-olds since late September, complaining of missing teachers, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms and buildings that cannot cope with rising temperatures. Student union leaders were urging fresh mobilisation Thursday morning outside high school campuses across France, and in the capital Paris. National education unions have also called for a general strike Thursday in support of the students.
In a televised address on Wednesday evening, the prime minister attempted to calm some of the tensions, promising a plan to respond to the crisis by the end of October. Sébastien Lecornu said that the country could not be "indifferent" to the concerns of high school students, acknowledging that the "anger of young people does not come from nowhere" . He denied that security forces have "orders to confront" the young people, after allegations of excessive police violence. But the students urged the movement to continue.
"We want real action, and until we get it, we'll keep mobilising," a high school student named Marilou in Fontainebleau told AFP . Suzanne Nijdam, president of student association Fage, said they did not have "even the crumbs of an agreement" after a meeting with higher education minister Philippe Baptiste . She called for protests to continue Thursday with "larger-scale demonstrations next week" .
Key Points
- 224 high schools were closed Thursday morning while 151 were partially reopening, a 30 percent drop from Wednesday
- The education ministry said 94 percent of high schools were either fully or partially open
- Marches were under way Thursday in Nantes, Rennes, Bron, Toulon and Marseille, with an afternoon rally planned at Place de la Bastille in Paris
- On Wednesday, the government suspended the use of stun grenades in policing the protests
- The movement has resulted in hundreds of arrests, dozens of injuries and heated debate about police violence against teenagers
- Students have complained of missing teachers, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms and buildings unable to handle rising temperatures
Why It Matters
The protest movement has exposed deep tensions in France between popular demands for investment in deteriorating public services and a cash-strapped government under pressure from bond markets to reduce its debt and deficit . It has also sparked a heated debate about the appropriate use of force by riot police against minors, with the suspension of stun grenades reflecting the political sensitivity of policing teenagers .
The protest movement has exposed deep tensions in France between popular demands for investment in deteriorating public services and a cash-strapped government under pressure from bond markets to reduce its debt and deficit . It has also sparked a heated debate about the appropriate use of force by riot police against minors, with the suspension of stun grenades reflecting the political sensitivity of policing teenagers .