Third day of national action by secondary school pupils and students in France
Secondary school students across France are engaged in widespread protests against poor school conditions, including infrastructure decay and staff shortages. The movement has led to significant school closures, numerous arrests, and political tension ahead of the presidential election.
Why it matters
The protests highlight growing social unrest and dissatisfaction with public services, posing a significant challenge to the current government's stability.
Official government figures put the number of demonstrators at over a quarter of a million nationwide on this third day of protest. As pupils blockaded high schools, large crowds waving flags and placards gathered in Marseille, Strasbourg and other cities.In Paris 56.000 took to the streets and small groups clashed with riot police at the end of a largely peaceful march.Students have drawn attention to rundown classrooms that lack basics such as desks and chairs, become sweltering in summer without air conditioning and, in some cases, are infested with rats.Other common complaints include staff shortages and exhausting workloads. French high school students’ compulsory classroom hours are among the highest in Europe.Lessons suspended in 891 out of 3,700 schoolsNearly 500 people were detained Tuesday, the interior ministry said.
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