Paris (GNP): Violence marked a fresh day of student protests across France on Friday, as pupils set fires and threw objects at police, who responded with tear gas. Unions and student groups have now called for more rallies next week.
The movement began in the Paris region in September and has since spread nationwide. Students are demanding better conditions in schools, shorter school days and measures to tackle staff shortages.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 1,747 people were arrested on Friday. He condemned attacks on police officers, teachers, journalists and passers-by. He added that more than 300 police officers and gendarmes have been injured since the protests started.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray said 735 of the country’s 3,700 schools were affected on Friday. That marks a 30% fall from Thursday. Three school staff members were hurt on Friday, compared with 31 the day before.
Across the whole movement, at least 65 school staff members have been injured, including 40 headteachers. Around 170 students have also been wounded, and more than 100 schools have suffered serious damage, Geffray said.
Several incidents drew particular attention. In Brest, police fired tear gas at Kerichen High School after pupils threw objects at officers. In Paris, fires damaged the entrances of two high schools and firefighters were called in.
In La Ciotat, in the south, officials said a teacher was sprayed with petrol and then assaulted by two people. In Tours, a young man hurt in clashes on Wednesday has lost the sight in his right eye, according to the city’s prosecutor. Police have opened internal investigations into allegations of excessive force against demonstrators.
Students say they endure overly long school days, poor facilities, overheated classrooms and frequent teacher absences. A student from Lille accused police of heavy-handed tactics, saying the anger among pupils was understandable given what they had witnessed.
Also Read: Rape Cases Push Delhi Students Into Streets Demanding Justice
The unrest has become a political test for the government, with a presidential election due in seven months to choose a successor to President Emmanuel Macron. Ministers have accused the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, led by presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, of encouraging the protests.
LFI official Manuel Bompard rejected the claim and accused the government of resorting to conspiracy theories. Geffray, for his part, said radical groups were exploiting the student movement, and urged that children be kept off the streets for their own safety.
The education minister also said the government will bring forward a plan to speed up the replacement of absent teachers. Student groups and unions want further action, and fresh demonstrations are planned for Tuesday.
Ryad Rani, head of the USL high school union, said, “Students expect concrete measures from this government and have not received them so far.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
