Protests disrupt 1,800 high schools across France, student union says - Anadolu Ajansı

Around 1,800 high schools across France were blockaded, affected by demonstrations or closed by education authorities on Tuesday, according to a student union, as protests over learning conditions entered a new nationwide day of mobilization.

The Union Syndicale Lyceenne (USL) said participation had reached a record level, French daily Le Parisien reported.

Students are demanding more staff and resources for public education, citing overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings.

Demonstrations began in cities including Nantes, Marseille and Lyon, while student organizations planned a major rally at Paris’ Place de la Republique at 2 pm local time (1200GMT).

Education unions backed the mobilization, calling on their members to join demonstrations in Paris and around 30 other cities.

Union Etudiante, a university student union, said more than 57 university sites were blockaded and 90% of universities in mainland France were affected by the movement.

The protests also unfolded amid growing criticism of police interventions after a 15-year-old boy was seriously injured in a grenade explosion outside a school in Lens on Monday.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the incident as a tragedy and said an investigation would establish the circumstances. He said the teenager apparently lost a hand following the explosion of a stun grenade, while stressing that the cause remained uncertain.

Nunez defended police intervention when violence occurs, saying the response must be proportionate.

Teachers at Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire high school in Etampes, meanwhile, accused police of excessive force during unrest last Thursday, saying students and staff had been tear-gassed, pushed and beaten.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said authorities aimed to begin gradually reopening affected schools from Wednesday. He also pledged a response within eight days to identified difficulties in replacing absent teachers.

The Education Ministry has opened an anonymous online consultation allowing high school students to submit concerns and proposals until Oct. 23.

Contributions will be summarized nationally at the end of the month to inform dialogue with students.