The mobilization of high school students continues in France

The mobilization of high school students continues. The movement of anger among students, which left the Paris region in mid-September, spread and tense last week, with an increase in acts of violence and damage throughout France. High school students are demanding more resources for their establishments, denouncing the unsanitary conditions of buildings, overcrowded classes, or unreplaced absences, particularly in working-class neighborhoods, or even the inequalities created by Parcoursup.

Before a new day of demonstrations expected this Tuesday, classes are still partially suspended in 400 to 500 schools. In total, the executive lists 5,000 arrests, of which approximately 85% were minors, 24 establishments “burned or ransacked” and “78 National Education personnel injured”, “generally by people outside” the high schools concerned.

The brutality of the police repression against demonstrators is also strongly criticized by several unions and associations, such as the Human Rights League. Five police investigations are underway. In Tours, a young 16-year-old high school student notably lost the use of one eye, due to lesions “compatible with the impact of an LBD-type defense ball”.