Nationwide Protests Demand Education Funding in France
In Rennes, western France, riot police deployed water cannons to confront students protesting against under-resourced schools on Tuesday. Across the nation, over a quarter of a million people participated in rallies supporting students’ demands for increased education funding, as reported by government figures. These demonstrations add pressure to the outgoing administration of President Emmanuel Macron.
The movement, which began at a high school in the Paris region in mid-September, has expanded across the country. In cities like Marseille and Strasbourg, large crowds carried flags and placards, emphasizing this as the latest in a series of protests during Macron’s near-decadelong presidency.
“We need to listen to them,” said Léa Monimart, a protester in Lille. “They are 17 years old; they are informed, and they know what they are talking about. It’s crucial to show that adults support them.”
According to the Interior Ministry, Tuesday’s demonstrations saw 256,000 participants across France, including 56,000 in Paris. In the capital, small groups clashed with riot police during an otherwise peaceful march. The use of arrests, tear gas, and riot-control weapons against youth has fueled defiance and anger among some parents and educators.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez asserted police actions were justified in “almost all cases,” stating that some protests escalated into riots necessitating intervention. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stressed the need to listen to student concerns and find solutions. He condemned accusations of police racism in response to their tactics and emphasized any incidents would be investigated.
Class boycotts and school blockades have led to over 6,100 arrests, mostly minors, becoming a focal point as the presidential election campaign begins. University student Felix Barney criticized the heavy-handed police response, questioning the rationale behind targeting minors.
“Riot police, batons, rubber bullets, tear gas,” pointed out Aurélien Le Coq, a member of the France Unbowed party. Its presidential candidate strongly supports the protests.
Nuñez continued to defend police methods despite rising injuries attributed to riot-control tactics. Notably, a 15-year-old boy lost a hand due to a police stun grenade. He noted 715 officers were injured. The protests have resonated with broader public dissatisfaction in France, encompassing issues like fuel prices impacted by the Iran conflict and economic inequality under Macron’s leadership. Students’ concerns about inadequate education funding resonate widely, with their futures seemingly at risk.
A placard outside a Paris school summed up the sentiment: “You say ‘young people are the future,’ so listen to them.”
Responding to heightened tensions, the Education Ministry closed some schools to mitigate demonstrations. The Ministry also launched an online portal allowing students to anonymously share their schooling challenges and suggest improvements.
At Hélène Boucher lycée, adults stood between students and police on Tuesday, supporting the children’s right to protest. “They are our children. Teachers, parents, federations, we all share the same goal: the protection of children’s rights, and it is a legitimate right to demonstrate and to make demands,” said Emilia Sichili Suriam, from a parents association.
Demonstrators highlighted issues like dilapidated classrooms lacking essentials, overcrowded and without air conditioning. Other significant concerns included staff shortages and overwhelming workloads, with French students’ mandatory school hours among the highest in Europe. Federation of student associations’ president, Suzanne Nijdam, vowed to sustain protests until authorities address grievances.
“So, we really need to act now, and it’s in the government’s hands, to see these demands through to the end. It’s a matter of political priority, a matter of prioritizing the youth and the future of our country,” she stated.