France’s Education Minister says 500 schools will be closed due to student protests
Quick Look
- French Education Minister Geoffrey said that due to the wave of student protests across the country, as many as 500 high schools will be fully or partially closed tomorrow as a safety precaution.
- The protests stemmed from issues such as teacher shortages, long class hours and old school buildings.
- The movement has resulted in 24 schools being burned or looted, 78 education staff injured, and more than 5,000 people arrested, 85% of whom were minors.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The student protest movement started in a Paris school on September 17 and later expanded into a nationwide action. The core demands include improving teacher shortages, shortening class hours and renovating old school buildings.
French Education Minister Geoffrey said that as many as 500 schools across France will be fully or partially closed tomorrow due to the wave of student protests sweeping the country.
Agence France-Presse reported that Edouard Geffray said that about 400 to 500 high schools will have "full or partial suspension" "due to safety conditions not being met" and said that since the start of the protest movement, 24 schools have been "burned or looted".
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He said that this wave of school closures was mainly a safety precaution taken in response to movement leaders’ call for large-scale protests on the 6th.
French high school students have complained that a severe shortage of teachers, long class hours, old school buildings and other problems have affected their studies.
Jeffery said that the number of schools affected tomorrow will be the same as on the 2nd, but he promised to "partially and gradually resume classes."
Valerie Pecresse, the right-wing mayor of the Ile-de-France district on the outskirts of the French capital, told the French news station (franceinfo) that more than one-third of the 468 high schools in the district will be closed tomorrow due to protests.
The movement, which started in a Paris school on September 17, has expanded into a nationwide protest last week, with clashes between students and security forces occurring in many places, with police using tear gas and batons against students.
Jeffrey pointed out that "there are activists, especially the far left, who infiltrate high school student movements, break them from the original intentions of the students, and incite extreme violence."
"Obviously, this poses a risk to our staff and our students," he said. Since the movement began, 78 educational staff have been injured. "This has never happened in the past."
In response to students' demands, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced a timetable today and urged local governments to prioritize filling long-term vacancies and vacant positions.
He also announced that he would convene a meeting with district governors on the 6th to discuss the improvement of most old school buildings across France.
Since the movement began, more than 5,000 people have been arrested, 85% of whom were minors. Outsiders have criticized the police for using excessive measures against children. (Compiled by: He Hongru) 1151005
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The government will hold a meeting of district governors on the 6th to discuss school building improvements
Very likely · Within days
Some schools will gradually resume classes after tomorrow
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- How will the protest movement evolve?
- Will the government accept students' specific demands for reform?
- Will the police adjust the way they deal with underage protesters?
