France protests: What we know as schools face nationwide action

Now in their third week, the protests have grown. Save Share Protests have continued across France for a third week as tens of thousands of school pupils and trade unionists have taken to the streets across many cities. Students initially beganboycotting classesin deprived areas of Paris on September 21 over teacher shortages and poor conditions, but protests have quickly morphed into a nationwide movement, with some of the largest demonstrations taking place on Tuesday. School blockades have turned violent, with protesters accused of hurling items at police and officers allegedly responding forcefully using batons, tear gas and rubber bullets. In one case, a teenagerlost his handin a grenade explosion. The mass demonstrations, which also coincided with a public sector strike over government budget plans last week, have presented another challenge for President Emmanuel Macron’s cash-strapped government ahead of next year’s elections, amid an ongoing fiscal crisis as government debt has rocketed in recent years. Here’s what we know: Students have been protesting over what they say are poor conditions in France’s high schools – or lycees – especially in poorer areas. Protests have been held in Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Nantes, Marseille, Lyon and other towns and cities. Students say absent teachers are not replaced, dilapidated school buildings are sometimes rodent-infested, there are inadequate tables and chairs, large class sizes and long classroom hours. The intense heatwave which hit France in the summer exacerbated existing problems in neglected school buildings, which also suffer from a lack of air conditioning, school pupils say. The protests have coincided with ongoing nationwide public sector strikes over a proposed 2027 cost-cutting budget that aims to achieve 54 billion euros ($61.3bn) in savings as Macron’s government races to bring a large public deficit under control. Public sector staff and unions object in particular to a government plan to freeze salaries to save about two billion euros ($2.27bn). Parents are also increasingly present at protests amid widespread anger about the police response to demonstrating minors. But the protests are happening amid wider discontent over soaring fuel and commodity prices and reduced public spending under Macron. Government officials have meanwhile accused political opposition groups and unionists of taking advantage of the student movement....