High-school students blockaded schools and marched in French cities on Thursday. Education Minister Edouard Geffray promised an emergency plan on teacher cover, while protest leaders called another day of marches.
French teenagers blockaded some high schools and marched through cities on Thursday, the third week of protests over teacher shortages and run-down buildings. The government said it would act, but Reuters reported few specific commitments.
The education ministry said 224 schools were closed in the morning and 157 by lunchtime, so 96 percent were open. Marches took place in Paris, Lille, Rennes, Nantes, Toulon and Marseille. Reuters said the marches were largely peaceful, with scuffles in Paris and Nantes and police using a water cannon in Rennes.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray, after meetings in Reims, said he was launching an emergency plan so absent teachers are replaced and that heavy timetables were under review. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu had said late Wednesday that the government would present concrete, funded responses by late October.
Student leaders said that was not enough and called further marches next Tuesday. A poll cited by Reuters found 72 percent support for the students and 55 percent wanting the protests to stop. Al Jazeera, citing authorities, reported thousands of arrests over the protest wave, mostly of minors, and injuries to officers and teachers.
The new element on Thursday is the minister's emergency-plan pledge and another day of blockades, not a voted education law.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Geffray said he was launching an emergency plan to replace absent teachers.
- Student leaders said the prime minister's pledge was not good enough.