French school protests resume on smaller scale as students return from break

On Monday, French high school student protests resumed in a reduced capacity as students returned from their two-week break, according to French media. The demonstrations, which initially began in the Paris suburbs in September, have since spread across the country, with attempts to blockade high schools in Paris, Marseille, and Rennes.

The protests, originally driven by concerns over education, have now expanded to encompass the cost of living, poor school conditions, and perceived corruption. In recent months, the demonstrations have escalated into violent clashes with police, leading to looting and riots in several cities, testing the resilience of President Emmanuel Macron's minority government.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray stated on Monday that the protests, though allowed, are illegal when they prevent access to schools. He proposed several solutions, including capping class sizes at 28, investing €4 billion in school renovations, creating 15,000 new university places, and implementing a new, more equitable university admissions system by 2028.

However, high school student representatives have criticized these proposals as insufficient, asserting that they will continue their protests until their demands are met.