Key facts
- Over 500 schools were partially or totally closed by protests on Monday.
- More than 5,000 people have been arrested during a week of demonstrations.
- A 15-year-old boy lost a hand during a confrontation near a school in Lens on Monday.
- A 14-year-old student sustained a double jaw fracture after reportedly being hit by a tear gas grenade.
- The Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL) described the government's offers as "nothing concrete".
- 1,802 people are facing prosecution, including 319 adults and 1,483 minors.
France is anticipating significant student protests on Tuesday, with organizers calling for a national day of action to demand greater investment in education. This follows a week of demonstrations that saw hundreds of schools blockaded, resulting in at least 190 student injuries and over 5,000 arrests.
One student suffered a severe hand injury during a confrontation on Monday, while another was reportedly injured by a tear gas grenade the previous week. The Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL), a key protest organizer, stated that the government's offered measures were "nothing concrete" and accused authorities of "unprecedented repression."
The protests, which began in September in Paris and have spread nationwide, highlight issues such as overcrowded classrooms, dilapidated school buildings, and a shortage of teachers. High school students initiated the movement, later joined by university students.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced measures on Sunday aimed at addressing difficulties faced by secondary school students and staff, promising "visible changes." However, he also asserted that the government would make "no concessions to violence."
Education Minister Édouard Geffray reported that 24 schools had been "burned and ransacked" since the protests began. The clashes between students and police have led to serious injuries. In addition to the 15-year-old boy who lost a hand near Lens, a 14-year-old student in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône reportedly sustained a double jaw fracture from a tear gas grenade.
Authorities have placed 14 individuals in pre-trial detention and are prosecuting 1,802 people, including 319 adults and 1,483 minors. The USL has accused the police of excessive force, a claim denied by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who described the policing as "extremely proportionate."
The protests have become politicized, with the government and hard-right politicians, including Marine Le Pen, blaming the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party for inciting riots. LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, however, has criticized police for "abuses of power" and called for support for the youth demonstrations.