France school protests escalate into ‘urban violence’ as PM calls crisis cabinet meeting
French high school students are engaging in widespread protests and blockades over issues like teacher shortages and poor school conditions. The government has labeled the unrest as 'urban violence' and is moving many schools to online learning to ensure safety.
Why it matters
The escalation of student protests into violence poses a significant challenge to the French government's ability to maintain public order and educational continuity.
Students take part in a blockade outside Voltaire high school in Paris's 11th arrondissement. Photograph: CLPRESS/ABACA/Shutterstock Students take part in a blockade outside Voltaire high school in Paris's 11th arrondissement. Photograph: CLPRESS/ABACA/Shutterstock France France school protests escalate into ‘urban violence’ as PM calls crisis cabinet meeting About 900 demonstrations, blockades and related incidents under way outside high schools around the country
Prefer the Guardian on Google A fast-growing protest by high-school students over long hours, teacher shortages and decaying facilities has escalated into “urban violence”, the French government has warned, as it said many schools would switch to online classes to protect teachers and pupils.
The prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, called a crisis cabinet meeting on Thursday and told ministers to cancel travel plans to deal with the demonstrations, which erupted in the Paris region last week but have snowballed across the country.
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