LIVE - Mobilization of high school students: “They don’t listen to us”, new day of demonstrations this Tuesday, up to 220,000 people expected
Quick Look
High school students are demonstrating in France against various problems such as the state of establishments, unfilled positions, busy schedules and Parcoursup, calling for a new national day of demonstrations on Tuesday, while the government tries to appease the movement with the deployment of 3,000 replacement teachers and calls for dialogue.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The current high school mobilization in France follows past movements such as that against the Fillon law in 2005 or against the CPE in 2006, but is distinguished by its scale and the diversity of its demands, including the state of high schools, unfilled teaching positions, busy schedules and the anxiety linked to Parcoursup.
This is certainly not the first time that France has been the scene of a high school mobilization, but it presents particular characteristics. It is first of all broad and does not focus on the request for the withdrawal of a legal text or a measure, as was often the case in the past, with for example the mobilization against the Fillon law (school orientation law) in 2005, or in 2006 against the CPE (First Hire Contract).
The current demands are diverse. We mention both the poor state of certain high schools, the unfilled teaching positions, but also the extended schedules and the anxiety caused by the Parcoursup system, analyzes Jérôme Fourquet, in his new book Homo occidentalis, co-written with the psychologist and psychoanalyst Ruben Rabinovitch.
THE COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF JÉRÔME FOURQUET
The mobilization of young people must be done “calmly, in order and with respect for both people and property,” declared Emmanuel Macron on Monday, on the eve of a new day of actions and strike in support of the high school movement.
Their demands are “subjects that deserve time, consultation, discussion, respect,” repeated the president, on the sidelines of a visit to the Mondial de l’Auto in Paris, adding, to the address of La France insoumise, that “in several places, there has been a desire to recover” the anger of young people.
“The government is moving forward (...) all the ministers concerned are also on the ground to carry out this work of listening, consultation and then decision,” he assured as the deployment of 3,000 replacement teachers, announced last week by the executive, began.
Also read High school crisis: the 3,000 replacement teachers pulled out of the hat by Edouard Geffray are causing trouble
Believing they have received “only crumbs”, the high school students are calling for a new national day of demonstrations on Tuesday, while the government hopes for a deceleration of the movement as the school holidays approach.
In Paris, the student and high school demonstration will set off at 2:00 p.m. from Place d'Italie to reach Les Invalides, not far from Matignon and the Ministry of Education.
“They don’t listen to us, we’re going to look for them,” announced the Student Union on X, while high school and student organizations have been asking for several days to be received by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. In the capital, a call for another demonstration, from City Hall to Matignon, undeclared, is circulating on the networks.
Following the call for this Act V, the High School Students' Union is still demanding the abolition of Parcoursup - also demanded by Insoumis leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon - and a plan of 10 billion euros for high schools. The demonstrators hope to link up with the mobilization “against the high cost of living”, planned for Saturday, the first day of the All Saints’ Day holidays.
Hello and welcome to this live. A few days before the All Saints' Day holidays, high school students began a new week of mobilization on Monday with several blockades of high schools yesterday, before what they hope is an "Act V" of the demonstrations this Tuesday which will be decisive for a movement that the government hopes is in decline.
Le Figaro will follow this day of high tension for the government in Paris and the regions.
Find our file - Blockade of high schools: the mobilization continues and the protest is spreading in France
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The government will continue its consultation efforts with high school and student organizations to try to defuse the movement before the holidays.
Likely · Within days
A new national day of demonstrations will take place on Tuesday as announced by high school students who believe they have only received crumbs.
Very likely · Within hours
The demonstrations could seek to link up with the mobilization “against the high cost of living” planned for Saturday, the first day of the All Saints’ Day holidays.
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- Will the government manage to calm the movement before the All Saints' Day holidays?
- Will the demands of high school students, in particular the elimination of Parcoursup and the 10 billion euro plan, be taken into account?
- Will there be an effective connection with the mobilization “against the high cost of living” planned for Saturday?
- What will be the impact of the deployment of 3,000 replacement teachers on the situation in high schools?
