Student protests in France have resulted in the closure of hundreds of schools and educational issues. Édouard Philippe, the Minister of Education, reported that 40 school principals were injured during these unrests. Students are protesting against the lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and the dilapidation of school buildings. These protests, which began in the Paris region, have rapidly spread to various cities across France and have led to clashes with police and damage to schools in some areas.
Serious Injuries and Arrests
According to the Minister of Education, since the beginning of these protests, 65 school staff members, including 40 principals, and about 170 students have been injured. The French Ministry of the Interior announced that on Thursday alone, 1,949 people were arrested. In some cases, teenagers have suffered serious injuries during the clashes, with reports of eye injuries emerging. The French government has held an emergency meeting following the escalation of violence and has deployed riot police to certain areas.
Peaceful Protests and Police Violence
Despite a large part of the protests remaining peaceful, many students have stated that their goal is to draw attention to the poor conditions of schools and the lack of educational resources. Lola, a 16-year-old student who participated in the protests, said: "In our view, we have won; because school is closed this morning." She also condemned police violence, stating that the use of tear gas and physical confrontation with students has further fueled the anger of the protesters.
In Paris, rescue forces are working to control fires, and in some cities, including Brest, police have used tear gas to disperse protesters. Gérald Darmanin, the French Minister of Justice, referred to the presence of an active and violent minority in these protests and stated that the situation has shifted from student demonstrations to public disorder.
Édouard Philippe also announced that more than a hundred schools have been severely damaged, and the activities of 1,207 high schools were halted or disrupted on Thursday. He emphasized that the student protest movement has been "hijacked" and some teachers have acknowledged that those participating in these protests are not their students.
Philippe Baptiste, the Minister of Higher Education in France, stated that discussions with student representatives will continue and that on Friday he will meet with protesters regarding their demands, including allocating more resources to the education system.
