1 day ago
Paris Suburb Students Lead Protests Over France's Strained Schools
Students across France are protesting because they say their schools do not have enough teachers and other staff.
They also say some classrooms are crowded and school buildings are in poor condition.
The protests began in suburbs near Paris and spread to other cities.
At one school, several subjects have been canceled because teachers are missing.
Students, parents and teachers want schools to receive more support.
Police used tear gas and rubber bullets in some cases, and thousands of people were arrested.
The government says education is still a priority.
It says the planned increase in education spending is below inflation partly because the student population is declining.
Students and supporters protested school conditions, overcrowding and teacher shortages at more than 1,200 French high schools.
The demonstrations began in Paris suburbs and spread to Paris and towns including Marseille, Strasbourg, Tours and Lille.
At a school in Aubervilliers, some classes have been canceled since the academic year began because of teacher shortages.
A union survey found two-thirds of high schools in Seine-Saint-Denis had unfilled teacher positions.
The government says education remains a priority and attributes its below-inflation budget increase partly to a declining population.
- Who
- High school students, teachers, parents and supporters, including demonstrators in Seine-Saint-Denis.
- What
- Nationwide protests and school blockades over school conditions, overcrowding and shortages of teachers and other staff.
- Where
- They began in Paris suburbs and spread across France, including to Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg, Tours and Lille.
- When
- The demonstrations began the previous week and continued during the week described in the report, published October 3.
- Why
- Protesters say schools, especially in deprived suburbs, lack adequate resources, teachers and support staff.
Protesters and education advocates
Government
School resources
Protesters and education advocates
Students, teachers and unions say schools lack teachers and support staff, face overcrowding and poor conditions, and do not receive resources matching students' needs.
Government
Education Minister Edouard Geffray said education remained a priority and attributed the below-inflation budget increase partly to population decline.
Policing the protests
Protesters and education advocates
Some teachers joined students to support their demands and protect them from police; demonstrators also reported serious injuries during the unrest.
Government
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the situation as a climate of unacceptable violence and called for order.
Key facts
- High schools affected
- Protests took place at more than 1,200 French high schools.
- Seine-Saint-Denis participation
- The CGT labour union said two-thirds of the department's high schools took part in protests on Thursday.
- Unfilled positions
- A union survey found two-thirds of high schools in Seine-Saint-Denis had unfilled teacher positions.
- Education budget
- The planned budget was €65.53 billion, a 1.7% increase excluding teacher pensions.
- Teacher positions
- The article says government cuts eliminated 3,256 teacher positions nationwide in 2026.
- Spending per student
- Average spending per secondary student was €11,660 in 2024, compared with €11,910 in 2010.
- Arrests
- More than 5,000 people were arrested during the protests.
Quotes
Ulysse Rabate
A political scientist at Paris 8 University.
“When there is a collapse of the public service, of public education, those who feel it the most, and the most violently, are those at bottom”
theprint.in
“Last year I took the high school French exam without a French teacher, and teachers have a huge impact”
theprint.in
Sources
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