French teens march for decent schools despite government’s pledge to act

In a series of protests marked by peaceful demonstrations and occasional clashes, French teenagers marched through cities demanding better school conditions on Thursday. The government promised to address their concerns about teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings but provided few specifics. The protests, now in their third week, have exposed tensions between the public's demand for investment in public services and the cash-strapped government facing pressure from bond markets to reduce debt and deficit.

The protests, peaceful overall, saw scuffles in Paris and Nantes, with police using water cannons in Rennes. At Bastille square in Paris, police charged protesters and used water cannons as dusk fell. High-school teacher Diane Di Sciullo, who joined students in Marseille, complained about overcrowded classrooms, with 37 students in her current class. She described her daily struggle, asking students to check neighboring classrooms for spare chairs and desks to ensure they could study properly.

Education ministry figures showed a gradual decrease in school blockades, with 96% of schools remaining open. Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced an emergency plan to replace absent teachers and review heavy school timetables. Geffray also addressed the widely criticized online portal for university applications, Parcoursup.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu pledged to present concrete, quick, and fully funded responses to the protests by late October, though without offering specifics. Student protest leaders criticized this response, calling for further marches next Tuesday and online calls for a day of protests on October 17. The protesters' main complaint was the heavy-handed police response, with hundreds arrested and dozens injured since the movement began.

The protests have created political polarization as the country approaches a presidential election. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen has highlighted the school damage caused by a minority of protesters and outlined plans to slash public spending, while her hard-left opponent Jean-Luc Melenchon has praised the protesters and denounced police brutality. A recent Elabe poll for BFM TV showed that 72% of French people think the students' demands are legitimate, but 55% believe the protests should stop.