Mass protests erupt across France as students demand better school resources
Hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and parents demonstrated nationwide, calling for more teachers, improved facilities and an end to what they see as excessive police force.
Around 250,000 students, teachers and parents took to the streets in cities across France on Tuesday, backed by trade unions and rights groups. The protests follow a wave of school blockades that began on Sept. 17 in the Paris suburb of Créteil and quickly spread to other suburbs, where students have highlighted dilapidated buildings, teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms.
Riot police were deployed to dismantle the blockades, and more than 6,000 demonstrators have been arrested, the majority under the age of 18. Officials reported that 210 teenagers and 715 police officers were injured during the clashes, and France’s police watchdog IGPN has opened ten investigations into alleged misconduct.
Education Minister Édouard Philippe met with student representatives on Oct. 2 and announced a five-point plan to reform the public education system, which protest leaders said does not fully address their concerns.
"Footage and testimonies widely reported over the last week raise alarming concerns about the dangerous use of tear gas, batons and restraint techniques by police. Tear gas grenades have been discharged recklessly, and rubber bullets have been fired causing serious injuries," said Anne Savinel-Barras, president of Amnesty International France.
Students voiced a range of grievances. A 19-year-old named Theo said the movement also seeks more resources for universities and hospitals, adding that the government must stop prioritising military spending. Sixteen-year-old Olympe complained that schools outside Paris receive less funding and have fewer teachers, while 15-year-old Rania expressed frustration at feeling ignored by authorities.
Teachers joined the protests as well. Clemence, a 30-year-old mathematics teacher in Paris, said the demands for additional staff and better teaching conditions have been repeated for years and cited extreme classroom temperatures during a recent heatwave as evidence of neglect.
The protests are set to continue, with organizers planning a larger demonstration on Oct. 17 that will include students, farmers and other groups.