French Student Protests Shrink After Break
Only 41 high schools were blockaded Monday, a sharp drop from the hundreds hit before the holiday.
By Amelia Gupta ·
High school students in France returned from a two-week holiday to continue protesting, but on a much smaller scale than in previous weeks. The Ministry of Education reported that 41 high schools were blockaded on Monday. That figure represents about one percent of the country’s 3,700 high schools, according to Franceinfo.
Students attempted to block access to schools in Paris, Marseille, and Rennes, Reuters reported. This stands in contrast to the weeks before the break, when hundreds of schools were shut down. Education Minister Edouard Geffray told France Inter radio that the current level of blockades is marginal. He described the situation as involving a handful of units and a few individual schools. Geffray noted that while protests are permitted, preventing access to schools is illegal.
Geffray stated that the school year is now at risk for several hundred thousand pupils. He added that the government cannot allow that situation to continue. The unrest began in the Paris suburbs in September and has since spread across France. Last month, the focus of the anger widened beyond education to include the cost of living. This shift drew in trade unionists and activists.
Some protests turned into violent clashes with police and riots in several cities, with shops looted. These events served as a test for President Emmanuel Macron’s minority government. Students are demanding the renovation of ageing schools, more teachers, and more university places. They also want an end to the university admissions system, which they view as socially unfair.
The government announced a package of measures last week. It plans a gradual replacement of the Parcoursup admissions platform by 2028. The government cancelled planned education job cuts and promised 500 additional posts. It also set a cap of 28 pupils per class in the first year of high school. Franceinfo reported that the government pledged 4 billion euros, or $4.47 billion, to renovate schools. It also promised 15,000 new places in higher education.
Student representatives said the offers were not enough and vowed to keep protesting. Pierre Sourzat, president of the student organisation Les Lyceens!, called for a blockade on Sunday. He spoke to France 24 about the ongoing campaign. The Union Syndicale Lyceenne and the Student Union have called for further blockades on Tuesday and Thursday. The UNEF student union said Tuesday should be a black day for universities, with blockades across the country.
