While the protests initiated by high school students in France demanding the improvement of school buildings and educational conditions continue, the Ministry of Education announced that approximately 130 high schools across the country remain closed today.
While authorities expect the protest movement that has affected the country in recent weeks to calm down before the midterm break, students plan to keep up the pressure with new demonstrations.
Regardless of the demonstrations, police detained a 14-year-old suspect today after a secondary school principal and a teacher were shot with a hunting rifle in the town of Aubagne, near the city of Marseille.
Police departments reported that this shooting did not appear to be connected to the high school protests.
During the wave of protests that started in the middle of last month, the entrances of hundreds of high schools where young people between the ages of 15 and 18 study were barricaded by students. There were violent clashes between the police and students at some points where security forces were dispatched.
Students blocked the entrances by piling up garbage containers, waste bins and barriers in front of their schools, and often carried humorous banners during the protests.
Students; It cited many problems, including teacher shortages, overly busy timetables, overcrowded classrooms, and neglected, worn-out school buildings.
It was observed that students closed school entrances in Paris, Marseille and Toulouse in the south of the country, and Rennes in the west.
Dozens of students gathered in front of a high school in Marseille city center.
Emeline, a 16-year-old high school student who participated in the protest, said in a statement to the AFP agency, "We are in solidarity with the high schools whose situation is worse. We do not want pressure, but real measures and a proper dialogue."
It has been reported that high school students will hold new marches on Tuesday, before the mass public demonstrations expected to be held against the high cost of living at the weekend.
Answering questions from members of the press during his visit to the Paris Motor Show, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that it would take time to resolve the complaints of the students and called on the activists for moderation.
"These are issues that require time, consultation, negotiation and respect," Macron said.
The French President noted that the process should be carried out calmly, in order, and with respect for both people and property.
The Ministry of Education announced that 96.5 percent of 3,700 high schools across France remain open today.
The Ministry stated that the number of school closures has decreased and 96.5 percent of the institutions are open, while on the other hand, the incidents of violence have intensified.
According to the ministry's data, eight education workers were injured this morning, mostly in the Paris region and the cities of Bordeaux and Lyon.
This figure does not include the shooting in Aubagne, which police said was not linked to student movements.
While most of the protests in recent weeks have been peaceful, it has been reported that some demonstrators lit fires and damaged bus stops.
After the police used tear gas, batons and stun grenades, human rights organizations and students accused the police forces of using disproportionate force.
Last week, the government pledged that approximately 3,000 contracted substitute teachers would be assigned to the 114 most affected high schools in the coming days to fill the missing positions.
An unnamed government spokesman announced to AFP that these teachers have started to be assigned to schools.
Since the protests began last month, the police force has launched 24 separate internal investigations into allegations of mistreatment and violence against demonstrators.
The Ministry of Justice announced that more than 6,800 people, most of whom are minors, have been detained since the beginning of the demonstrations.
High school students in France are taking a new stage in their struggle to improve conditions and aim to maintain public support with a new wave of demonstrations.
While the government hopes that the protests will calm down, it is considered that the new protests planned for Tuesday may constitute a turning point for the movement.
Authorities reported on Friday that there was a significant decrease in the number of blockades and gatherings in front of the buildings where students completed their high school education.
The Ministry of Education stated that more than 96 percent of schools were open on Friday.
The call by activists organized online to take to the streets on Saturday to protest the high cost of living is among the main reasons why the authorities want the high school demonstrations to end as soon as possible.
This reminds the Macron administration of the Yellow Vest movement, which started in 2018 with a fuel tax increase plan and witnessed violent clashes during Macron's first presidency.
The government continues to calculate the extent of material damage caused by the high school demonstrations. In his assessment to the press last week, a government source noted that the damage during the demonstrations was at least 30 million euros.
The Ministry of Justice reported on Friday that 86 percent of the more than 6,800 people detained since the protests began were minors.
While the serious injuries of some students in the clashes between the demonstrators and the riot police increased the reactions against the security tactics, the government suspended the use of stun grenades, which caused one student to lose his hand. 18 separate cases of irregularities are being investigated within the police units.
