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School protests spread across France

School protests in France have grown beyond the demands of high school students into a nationwide movement joined by parents, university students and trade unions. According to the government, more than 250,000 people took to the streets across the country on Tuesday; student unions said the turnout reached 450,000.

Officials said disruptions were reported at 891 high schools the same day, equal to roughly a quarter of the country’s high schools. Student groups said about 1,800 schools were blockaded in what protesters called the “Third Act” of the movement.

The protests began in mid-September over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings in Seine-Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris. The movement later spread to other cities across France and to some universities.

Tensions rise with police in Paris, Marseille and Lyon

In the capital, Paris, students marched from Place de la République demanding more funding for schools and urging police to avoid heavy-handed tactics. Police used tear gas in Paris and Marseille, while clashes broke out with demonstrators in Lyon; in Rennes, water cannon were deployed.

In Marseille, thousands marched through the city as some masked protesters tried to build barricades with cones and trash bins. Riot police then used gas and dispersed the crowd.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the earlier acts of violence. Lecornu said 215 students, 85 school staff members and 715 police officers have been injured since the protests began.

Pressure on the government is mounting

President Emmanuel Macron was due to hold a situation meeting with ministers at the Élysée Palace on Tuesday evening. Education Minister Édouard Geffray called for dialogue instead of school blockades, but said highly violent elements had infiltrated student protests.

Measures announced so far include a website where students can submit complaints and in-school review sessions on Friday. However, these steps are said to have fallen short of calming anger on the ground.

Police response under scrutiny

Allegations of disproportionate force by police are also under discussion in France. The police watchdog, known as IGPN (Inspectorate General of the National Police), is investigating a number of cases.

  • In Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, northwest of Paris, a police officer has been charged over throwing a tear gas canister at a high school student, in a case involving accusations of violence causing permanent disability.
  • In Lens, officials and students gave conflicting accounts of an incident in which a 15-year-old boy lost his hand after an explosive device went off near a school.

The Interior Ministry said 6,547 people have been stopped or detained by police since September 28. France’s largest union, the CGT, said new actions involving school and university students are planned for Thursday.

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