French schools blockade resume on smaller scale as holidays end

Students blockaded dozens of high schools across France on Tuesday to maintain pressure on the government regarding education reforms. These protests follow a two-week autumn break and precede a nationwide strike planned for later this week. According to Malay Mail, students are calling for more university places, reduced class sizes, and the renovation of dilapidated schools.

Authorities stated that 48 of France's 3,700 high schools were blocked, including locations in Lyon, Toulouse, Rennes, and Paris. However, the Union syndicale lyceenne (USL) contested this figure, claiming that 500 establishments were blocked. The USL also denounced the use of riot police units and accused authorities of using heavy-handed tactics to suppress the movement and prevent Thursday's mobilization.

In the city of Rennes, approximately 30 students blocked access to Brequigny High School, which Malay Mail describes as one of the nation's largest secondary schools. Students have planned another day of blockades for Thursday to coincide with trade union strikes.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Malay Mail — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.