Students, parents and trade unions are demonstrating across France, in protest at what they say is under-investment in high schools
One union says 2,000 high schools have closed – the government says 891 schools have classes suspended, either totally or partially
In Strasbourg, there were scuffles between police and protesters; in Lyon, a barricade was set on fire; while in Rennes, police used water cannon
In Paris, one 17-year-old tells us she studies in “overcrowded” classes of 35: “We have been fighting for so many things…we still feel like we are not being heard”
But, as Mark Lowen reports from Marseille, it’s hard to see how the demands will be met by a government that urgently needs to rein in public spending
In parliament, French Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu says: “Burning down a high school does not improve the state of high school buildings”
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu says hundreds of police officers and students have been injured during recent the protests across France.
Speaking in the French parliament this afternoon, Lecornu says 215 students have been injured since the protests began, as have 85 school workers and 715 gendarmes and police officers.
He says it is the highest figure to affect workers in the education system in decades, condemning the “trivialisation” of violence that is “unacceptable”.
“Burning down a high school does not improve the state of high school buildings. Lynching a teacher does not help replace teachers,” he says, adding it is a “lie” to suggest the government had ordered “police repression” against demonstrators.
