French Student Protests: The students-led movement, which began in the Paris region in September and spread nationwide, turned violent after clashes between security personnel and the young protesters on Friday. Riot police clashed with high school students across France.
Friday brought more of the scenes that have dominated streets this week. Vandalism, garbage fires and teens confronting and taunting police became symbol of the protst in the European nation. Tear gas clouded the streets in the eastern city of Strasbourg, fireworks were aimed at police lines in Marseille in the south and rubbish bins were set ablaze in Rennes in the west.
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400 Schools Remain Closed
Over 400 schools were shut on Friday amid intensifying agitation. The French Education Ministry said studies in 564 high schools out of the 3,700 in the country have been disrupted.
What Are The Demands Of Protesters?
French gendarmes stand in position amid clashes during a protest by high school students near the Lycee Berthelot high school in Aubervilliers near Paris as part of nationwide protests to demand the hiring of substitute teachers, increased resources and better learning conditions. The nationwide spread of protests highlights under-resourced schools, long hours and other complaints.
What Has Triggered The Stir?
The demonstrations erupted in Paris-region schools last week and have snowballed, with police making hundreds of arrests in clashes with the young protesters last month. Authorities have reported many dozens of injuries, including from hurled objects but also, in some suspected cases, from police riot-control projectiles.
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High schoolers are expressing broad grievances -- mainly, schools are under-resourced, with dilapidated facilities and insufficient staff. Still, spending on education is one of the costliest items in the state budget that Macron's government proposed this week, with 65.5 billion euros (USD 74 billion) set aside for schools in the next year. That's more than the proposed 63.4 billion euros for defence.
The protests are quickly blowing up as a hot topic in the election campaign to replace President Emmanuel Macron next May, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, and heightening pressure on the government also beset by France's growing financial problems.
Students also complain that school days, which often start at 8 am, are too exhausting and the university entrance system too complex. Some university students also joined the protests this week.
Government Says Rioting Is Not Legitimate Protest
On the other side, the Macron government has repeatedly said that it respects the right to peaceful protest. But it also issued written orders for police to break up protests that block access to schools and to rapidly put a stop to violence and vandalism.
(With Agencies Inputs)
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