Tens of thousands of schoolchildren across France have taken to the streets again in a 'day of action' as fiery protests continue. Blockades made of bins and bicycles appeared outside schools in the Paris area and other major cities early on Tuesday morning as students continued to rail against what they describe as a crumbling education system, which by comparison spends less per head on pupils than the UK.
Clashes and arrests
Pupils were seen clashing with police as they attempted to break up protest lines with shields and batons. Emmanuel Macron's government has vowed to clamp down on the 'unprecedented' violence associated with the protests after shocking footage shared online showed teachers and innocent members of the public being attacked.
Over 5,000 people have been arrested, and dozens have been hospitalised since the demonstrations began around three weeks ago. More than 5,000 people - 87% of them under 18 - have been arrested so far as the demonstrations turn increasingly violent.
Student grievances
The wave of demonstrations over the state of the French education system began last month in the capital, before spreading to other towns and cities, including Marseille, Lille, and Lyon. Protesters, mostly teenagers who have organised on social media, say widespread shortages of teaching staff and a lack of substitute teachers to cover absences have impacted their learning, along with growing class sizes, which now routinely reach 34 or more pupils in some urban areas.
Outdated, dilapidated school buildings and a shortage of teaching resources have also featured on the list of grievances, alongside drawn-out timetables that see some secondary school pupils begin the day at 8am and finish at 6pm. Placards decrying the French government - which is planning further cuts to the education budget to reverse a ballooning deficit - and the far-right election frontrunner Marine Le Pen have appeared at many of the protests.
The cause has attracted some support abroad, including in the UK, where a number of students' groups have spoken in support of the protests, highlighting similar concerns over funding. France spends an average of £9,313 per pupil on pre-university education, according to the latest OECD data, compared to £11,803 in Britain.
Government response
Education Minister Édouard Geffray said yesterday that 24 schools had been 'burned and ransacked' since the protests began on September 17, while dozens of teachers have been injured, mostly in attempts to try and calm pupils. One video, showing a youth spraying flames from a deodorant can at a woman's face when she asked him to stop damaging property, attracted particular condemnation last week after being widely shared on social media. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Student groups have hit back by pointing out what they say are examples of police brutality. One young protester had his hand blown off after picking up a police stun grenade on Monday, while another was left with a double fracture after being hit in the head by a tear gas grenade last week.
On Sunday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he would present a list of reforms that would deliver 'visible changes in secondary schools' to the government before the end of the month. Proposals include filling long-term teaching vacancies as a matter of priority, and using artificial intelligence to create school timetables. Condemning the protests, he warned: 'At the same time, we will not give in to violence. We will support pupils and staff who have been attacked, as well as injured police officers and gendarmes.'
