Published On ۶ Oct ۲۰۲۶
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets across France as unions and teachers joined high school students who, for days, have been demanding better learning conditions in protests punctuated by violent confrontations.
The French Ministry of the Interior said ۸۶,۰۰۰ people had already joined demonstrations across the country early on Tuesday, while the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union put the figure at ۲۶۰,۰۰۰.
Students have blocked the entrances to hundreds of high schools since late September, complaining of missing teachers, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms and buildings unable to cope with rising temperatures.
While many protests have been peaceful, some demonstrators have started fires, destroyed bus shelters or clashed with riot police.
Police have responded with batons, tear gas and riot-control rounds.
Injuries, investigations
The government says ۲۱۵ students and ۷۱۵ police officers have been injured since the start of the movement.
Unions, rights groups and students have accused the authorities of using disproportionate force.
A ۱۵-year-old lost a hand to a stun grenade fired by riot officers in the northern town of Lens on Monday.
Police have launched ۱۰ internal investigations into allegations of brutality since the protests began, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said late on Monday.
Since the start of the movement, ۲۴ schools have been burned or ransacked, according to the Ministry of Education.
More than ۵,۰۰۰ people, ۸۷ percent of them minors, have been arrested.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office said ۸۵ members of teaching staff have also been injured.
The government is also pushing legislation to make those responsible for damaging public property pay for repairs themselves, instead of using public funds.
