French school protests test government reform plan amid resource demands
Students, teachers and parents say deteriorating facilities, staff shortages and crowded classrooms remain unresolved. Officials report thousands of arrests and hundreds of injuries as police misconduct investigations proceed.
At least 250,000 students, teachers and parents demonstrated across France on Tuesday over conditions in public schools, according to the event summary. Protesters cited deteriorating buildings, staff shortages and overcrowded classrooms, and called for more resources and teachers.
The movement grew from school blockades that began in Créteil on 17 September and spread to Paris suburbs, Al Jazeera reported. Education Minister Édouard Geffray met student leaders on 2 October, after which the government announced a five-point education reform plan. Protesters interviewed by Al Jazeera said it did not address the scale of their concerns.
Students described feeling ignored and said resources varied between schools. A Paris maths teacher told Al Jazeera that classrooms reached 35–40°C during a heatwave, and said teachers had sought better conditions for years.
Police were deployed to break up blockades. Figures attributed to officials include more than 6,000 arrests, 210 teenagers wounded and 715 police officers wounded. At least 10 investigations into alleged police misconduct have been opened by France’s police watchdog, IGPN; the investigations are not findings of wrongdoing.
Amnesty International France president Anne Savinel-Barras called on authorities to avoid unnecessary and excessive force, citing reported footage and testimonies about police tactics. One student told Al Jazeera a larger demonstration was planned for 17 October; whether it took place is not established.
