High-school blockades continued for a third week. The education ministry said 157 schools were still closed at lunch, and student leaders called another march for next Tuesday.
French teenagers blockaded some high schools and marched on Thursday, the third week of protests over teacher shortages and dilapidated buildings. The government said it would act, but student leaders said the pledges were still too vague.
Education ministry figures showed blockades easing. It said 224 schools were closed in the morning and 157 by lunchtime, so 96 percent were open. Crowds marched in Paris, Lille, Rennes, Nantes, Toulon and Marseille. Reuters said the marches were mostly peaceful, with scuffles in Paris and Nantes and police using a water cannon in Rennes.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray, after meeting students and teachers in Reims, said he was launching an emergency plan to replace absent teachers and that heavy timetables were under review. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said late Wednesday the government would present concrete, quick and fully funded responses by late October, without specifics.
A poll cited by Reuters found 72 percent support for the students and 55 percent wanting the protests to stop. Protest leaders said Lecornu's pledge was not enough and called further marches for next Tuesday.
The late-October plan has not been published. Thursday's numbers are the ministry's midday count, not a final tally of closures.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Edouard Geffray said he was launching an emergency plan to replace absent teachers.
- Student protest leaders said the prime minister's pledge was not enough and called marches for next Tuesday.