France braces for national day of student protests after injuries and mass arrests
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Image source: Reuters
Image caption: More than 500 schools were partially or totally closed by protests on Monday, the French education minister said
By Tinshui Yeung
Published 2 hours ago
France is braced for major protests on Tuesday, after organisers called for a nationwide day of action in support of students demanding more investment in education.
It follows a week of demonstrations, which saw:
- Students blockading hundreds of schools
- At least 190 students injured
- Over 5,000 people arrested
One student had his hand blown off during a confrontation on Monday, while another was reportedly struck in the head by a tear gas grenade last week.
France's prime minister stated the government had announced measures to address their demands, but the Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL), a major organiser of the protests, claimed the government offered "nothing concrete".
Other organisations have shown their support for the students, including:
- The teachers' union SNES-FSU, urging its members to join the protest.
- La France Insoumise (LFI) party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, describing the protests as the "most powerful high school and university student youth movement" since 1968.
The protests began in September in Paris and have spread nationwide, with students protesting over:
- Overcrowded classrooms
- Run-down buildings
- A lack of teachers
On Sunday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a series of measures to "address the difficulties faced by secondary school students and education staff", promising "visible changes" in schools. However, he also stated: "We will make no concessions to violence."
The unrest has resulted in:
- Schools being blockaded
- Rubbish bins set on fire
- 24 schools burned and ransacked since the start of the protests
Violent clashes between students and police have led to serious injuries. On Monday, a 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off during a confrontation near a school in Lens. Last week, Eden, aged 14, suffered "a double jaw fracture" after being struck on the head by a tear gas grenade.