Up to 500 schools across France will be totally or partly closed on Monday due to protests by teenage pupils that have shaken the country. Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced on Sunday that lessons will be "totally or partly suspended" in some "400-500" high schools as security conditions have not been fulfilled. This decision comes after a wave of protests by high school students, known as lycées, who are demanding better learning conditions.
The protests began at a Paris school on 17 September and have since grown into nationwide demonstrations marked by outbursts of violence. Students are complaining about high teacher absences, overlong school days, and dilapidated facilities, among other grievances. Geffray stated that 24 schools have been "burned or ransacked" since the start of the movement, and 78 education staff members have been wounded, a number that has never been seen before.
Geffray also mentioned that there are activists, particularly from the far-left, who have infiltrated the high school student movement and engaged in extreme violence. He stated that these individuals have "hijacked" the movement from the students themselves and pose a risk to both staff and students. The minister vowed that there would be a "partial, progressive return to lessons" but did not provide further details.
Organisers have called for the protests to continue on Tuesday, citing a lack of "concrete measures" from the government. Over 5,000 people, mostly minors, have been arrested since the start of the movement. Critics have accused police of heavy-handed tactics, and a 16-year-old was detained on Sunday over the assault of a teacher in the southern town of La Ciotat.
A video circulating on social media shows an individual dressed entirely in black with a masked face splashing liquid onto a teacher, who then clutches his face while a tree burns nearby. The teacher, 59, was doused with gasoline and struck on the sidelines of a high school student protest on Friday. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of students and staff.
Geffray stated that the number of schools affected on Monday would be comparable to the figure from Friday but assured that there would be a gradual return to normal lessons. He also mentioned that the government is working to address the concerns of the students and find a solution to the crisis.
The situation remains uncertain, with protests planned to continue on Tuesday. The government faces pressure to respond to the demands of the students and restore order in the education system. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the authorities will address the concerns of the students and ensure the safety of staff and students.
Key points
- Up to 500 French schools will be totally or partly closed on Monday due to protests by teenage pupils.
- The protests began at a Paris school on 17 September and have since grown into nationwide demonstrations marked by outbursts of violence.
- Over 5,000 people, mostly minors, have been arrested since the start of the movement.
