French students renew protests over education reforms

French high school student protests resumed on Monday, with a significantly smaller scale compared to previous weeks, as students returned from a two-week break. Demonstrators attempted to blockade a few high schools in Paris, Marseille, and Rennes, according to French media reports. By 0830 GMT, 41 high schools, which represent approximately 1% of all nationwide schools, were blockaded, stated the Education Ministry.

The protests, which initially began in Paris suburbs in September, have spread across France and have since expanded to include concerns over the cost of living, trade unionists, activists, and sometimes became violent. These "Gen Z" protests have occurred in various European countries, such as Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Albania, driven by similar grievances including the cost of living, the state of schools, and perceived corruption.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray noted that the phenomenon of blockades is "very marginal" at the moment, mentioning that only a few individual schools were affected. He clarified that while protests are permitted, preventing access to schools is illegal. Police officers were present during the demonstrations, though they were not in full riot gear. France has suspended the use of stun grenades by the police during student protests.

Students are demanding the renovation of aging schools, more teachers, additional university places, and an end to a university admissions system they perceive as socially unfair. Education Minister Geffray offered several improvements, including capping class sizes at 28, allocating €4 billion to renovate schools, creating 15,000 new higher education places, and implementing a new admission system by 2028.

However, high school student representatives stated that these offers were insufficient and they would continue their protests.