Protests Started by High School Students in France Spread Nationwide
Protests that began in the Paris suburbs due to dilapidated buildings, overcrowded classrooms, and teacher shortages have spread to over a thousand high schools.
Students in more than twelve hundred high schools across France have organized protests over chronic educational problems and budget cuts, sparking a nationwide political debate.
The Beginning and Spread of the Protests
Demonstrations that started in the Paris suburbs over reasons such as aging school buildings, overcrowded classrooms, and teacher shortages quickly spread across the country.
The actions also spread to different cities such as Marseille, Strasbourg, Tours, and Lille, showing their effect in more than twelve hundred high schools.
Security Interventions and Detentions
More than five thousand people were detained in incidents where police intervened at some points with tear smoke and plastic bullets.
During the demonstrations, some protesters were seriously injured, including eye injuries, broken teeth, and head impacts.
Political Reactions and Budget Discussions
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez condemned the acts of violence and called for the restoration of public order.
Activists and experts stated that the government's spending cuts and insufficient appropriations in the 2027 budget deepened the education crisis.
Teacher Shortage and Conditions in Schools
According to union data, two-thirds of the high schools in the Seine-Saint-Denis region participated in the actions, and there was a lack of drinking water in the schools.
The government's reduction of thousands of teaching staff positions nationwide and personnel shortages negatively affected the quality of education.