‘Fund Education, Not War’: Mass Protests Surge Across France

Mass protests by students, teachers and parents have spread across France. At least 250,000 people have taken to the streets to protest a lack of educational materials, dilapidated school buildings, teacher shortages and police crackdown. The movement, which began recently, has now turned into widespread social anger.
The protests began on September 17 when students blocked the entrance to a high school in Créteil, a suburb of Paris. The movement soon spread to other suburbs of Paris and several other cities. Secondary school students protested against dilapidated classrooms, a shortage of teachers and overcrowded classrooms.
Amnesty International has strongly criticised the use of tear gas, batons and rubber bullets by police to suppress the protests. At least 210 students and 715 police officers have reportedly been injured so far. More than 6,000 protesters have been arrested, 85 percent of whom are under 18.
The students’ main demands are increased budget allocations for education, an end to teacher shortages and improvements in the learning environment. French Education Minister Edouard Geffray recently held talks with student leaders and proposed a five-point reform plan. However, the protesters rejected it.
The students have expressed their anger in their own words.
Théo, 19, student: “The Macron government should stop investing only in war. Our schools and hospitals are facing a severe lack of resources. We have all taken to the streets to demand a better future.”
Olympe, 16, high school student: “Our schools receive much less funding than schools in other affluent areas of Paris. We do not have enough teachers and there is a lack of equal opportunities and facilities.”
Raphaël, 17, high school student: “We are here to protect our young generation. The state thinks young people have no political awareness. We want to prove that we are fully aware of our rights and values.”
Clémence, 30, mathematics teacher: “The demands raised by the students are the same demands we teachers have been making for years. During extreme heat, we have had to teach in classrooms where temperatures reached 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. This is completely unacceptable.”
Students and teachers have announced that they will continue the protests until their demands are met. A larger demonstration involving students, teachers and farmers has been called for October 17.

Source: Al Jazeera