Tens of thousands of people are mobilizing across France as part of the high school student movement. Their demands include increased staffing, improved school facilities, and changes to the overall governance of the national education system.
Protesters have gathered in major squares, including Place de la Bastille in Paris, while the movement has also spread to other major cities, such as Marseille.
The education ministry reported that 141 high schools remained closed on Friday morning, October 9. Police have intervened during the protests, using a number of interventions.
More than 6,800 people have been placed in police custody since the movement began, with fewer than half facing prosecution, according to French government figures reported by Le Monde. Minors account for 86% of those taken into custody. Of the nearly 2,300 people facing prosecution, 1,547 have been referred to judicial authorities.
The United Nations human rights office expressed concern over incidents during the protests.
Reuters reported that student unions vowed to continue protesting, while student and teacher unions have called for another round of nationwide strikes on Tuesday, October 13.
The French education ministry is reportedly bringing in around 3,000 spare teachers to schools. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said that more than 100 teaching staff had been injured since the protests began.
A 15-year-old lost a hand following the explosion of a police stun grenade during a protest on Monday, according to reports, which reportedly led to a decision to stop the use of grenades. Earlier on Monday, Geffray had reported that at least 190 students had been injured since the movement began according to multiple reports.
The movement’s direction remains uncertain. Further government concessions or broader reforms remain a possibility, while protests are potentially heading for a continuation in the short-term.
