Protests by French high school students have spread to universities, with around 30 university campuses blocked on Thursday morning, according to the Union Étudiante (Student Union). The blocked campuses include sites in Paris, Strasbourg, Marseille, Lyon, Reims, Poitiers, and Nanterre. The movement, which began in high schools about a week ago, had spread to 356 schools across the country by Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said.
The protests are driven by a range of student grievances, including concerns over timetables, class sizes, and a shortage of teachers. Students are also protesting about overheated classrooms during this year's heatwaves. On Thursday, hundreds of pupils in Strasbourg blocked traffic and a tram line outside Couffignal high school and set rubbish containers on fire. In Saint-Denis, north of Paris, clashes broke out between young people and police, with mortar fireworks and tear gas used.
The protests have turned violent, with 119 students and school staff injured since the blockades began, according to Education Minister Edouard Geffray. On Wednesday, 625 people were detained during high school blockades, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said, noting an "expansion of the movement" and condemning an "escalation of violence" outside certain schools. Eighty-three police officers and gendarmes were wounded.
The government has condemned the violence, with President Emmanuel Macron saying that while he understands the anxieties and anger of young people, none of these debates or fears can justify the unrest. Macron criticised hard-left politicians he accused of "legitimising violence". The government is preparing to roll out a consultation platform allowing all high school students to submit their concerns and demands.
The police are also under scrutiny, with France's police watchdog, the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), opening three investigations into incidents in which students were injured during protests. The investigations concern incidents in Sevran, Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, and Tours. In Tours, a young man was injured in the head on Wednesday and taken to hospital.
Student unions are calling for further protests, with the USL, France's second-largest student union, inviting unions, associations, and political organisations to join demonstrations on Thursday and 6 October. The UNEF, France's third-largest student organisation, has also called on students to take to the streets across the country, protesting against a mass reduction in university places and a freeze on housing benefit payments.
The protests are expected to continue, with students demanding "massive funding" for schools and universities. The government has promised to provide "structured responses" to the students' concerns, but it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to quell the unrest. For now, the protests are set to continue, with students determined to make their voices heard.
Key points
- * Around 30 university campuses were blocked on Thursday morning, with students protesting over issues including timetables, class sizes, and teacher shortages. * The protests have turned violent, with 119 students and school staff injured since the blockades began. * Student unions are calling for further protests, demanding "massive funding" for schools and universities.
