More than 70,000 people took to the streets to protest! France’s education crisis spreads, schools smashed, police station set on fire

French teenage students launched a new wave of demonstrations in many cities across the country on the 8th to protest against the poor educational environment in schools. Some high school students blocked the campus and took to the streets to demonstrate. Some of the demonstrations triggered violent conflicts, and there were even reports of police stations being set on fire, schools being vandalized, and teachers being attacked.

Reuters reported that the French Interior Ministry confirmed that a total of 71,500 people participated in demonstrations across the country on the 8th, of which 24,500 participated in the main protest centered on Place de la Bastille in Paris.

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Demonstrations in Paris were largely peaceful, but sporadic clashes occurred between a small number of demonstrators and police in the evening.

The French Interior Ministry pointed out that there were many violent incidents reported in other regions, including a police station in Bordeaux being attacked by arsonists, a school in Saint-Etienne being broken into and vandalized, and a teacher in Toulouse being beaten by demonstrators.

In Marseille, police said a teacher at Victor Hugo High School had been attacked during the latest wave of demonstrations and had filed a criminal complaint over the incident.

The report pointed out that the protest movement has now entered its third week, highlighting the deep contradictions within French society. On the one hand, the people are demanding that the government increase investment to improve deteriorating public services; on the other hand, the financially strapped French government is facing pressure from the bond market and must find ways to reduce debt and fiscal deficits.

Demonstrators said they took to the streets to demand more teachers and better school facilities. They point out that many school buildings are in disrepair and classrooms are overcrowded; winters are often unbearably cold and summers are unbearably hot.

However, critics believe that the protest movement has been infiltrated by violent far-left elements and anarchists.

In Marseille, high school teacher Diane Di Sciullo also joined the student demonstrations. She said that all students and teachers ask for is to receive the education they deserve in a reasonable environment.

Disiulo criticized classroom overcrowding, saying the class she teaches this year has 37 students.

She said: "At the beginning of every class, I have to ask students to go to the next classroom to check if there are any extra desks and chairs, so that they can actually study in class."

Dishulo, 28, held a protest placard that read: "I am a teacher and my students will help me catch cockroaches in the classroom."