French Students Renew Protests After Autumn Break

High school students in France have resumed protests as they return from their autumn holidays. On November 2, students blocked some high schools, showing their determination to keep the protest movement alive, despite some government promises made during the break.

According to the education ministry, only a small fraction of the country’s high schools were affected, with just one percent of the 3,700 high schools, known as lycees, being blockaded. This follows a weekend of demonstrations where hundreds of thousands, including students, protested across France.

The protests began in September, focusing on issues like learning conditions and social inequality. Although the government has proposed changes to the university admissions process and plans to hire more teachers, many students feel these measures fall short.

In Marseille, students symbolically blocked a high school entrance with garbage bins. A 16-year-old student named Meriem expressed frustration, saying, “We’ve resumed the movement because we were supposedly given answers, but it’s clearly not enough.”

Education Minister Edouard Geffray urged students to return to class to avoid jeopardizing their exam preparations. He highlighted that many students have missed weeks of school, which could affect their performance in the baccalaureate exams at the end of the year.

President Emmanuel Macron has called for a calm return to classes, stating that the voices of young people have been heard. However, with the economy facing challenges, the government has limited options to meet the demands of the protesting students.