France Set for Nationwide Strikes, as School Protests Escalate
Student protests over school conditions have spread across France, with demonstrators citing crowded classrooms, teacher shortages and inadequate facilities. The Education Ministry said protests had affected about 400 of the country’s 3,700 high schools.
On Thursday, students blocked school entrances and set fire to bins. Blockades were expected to continue on Friday, according to The Local France.
The demonstrations have included clashes with police. More than 400 people, many of them minors, were detained on Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported. The Local France said several school principals were injured, harassed or assaulted during Thursday’s blockades.
The protests coincided with a public-sector strike over planned budget cuts. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said police had opened internal investigations following accusations of brutality against three pupils.
Where this came from
NYT World News did not allow its article to be shown here. This version was written by Sureno, in its own words, from other reporting:
- The Local France — LATEST: French school protests spread as fires and blockades deepen unrest
- Al Jazeera — What’s behind French student protests that turned violent?