SUMMARY

• Students in Marseille protested overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and poor school facilities.
• The demonstrations spread to more than 1,000 schools across France on October 1.
• Nearly 1,950 people were arrested nationwide as some protests turned violent.

FRANCE: Students in Marseille joined a growing wave of school protests across France on Thursday, demanding more resources and improved education conditions.

Footage from Marseille shows protesters placing fencing and cardboard onto a burning barricade outside Joliot-Curie High School as police formed lines nearby.

Officers later cleared the blockade and made arrests while putting out the fire. Local reports said 68 people were arrested across the Marseille area that day.

The protests have spread to more than 1,000 high schools across France, with 1,027 establishments affected and 222 blockades recorded on October 1, according to the Interior Ministry.

Students Raise School Concerns

Students have cited overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, poor facilities and demanding schedules among their main concerns.

Simone Veil High School student Karim said some classes had 36 students, while heating was inadequate during winter and classrooms became too hot during summer.

Students have also criticised gaps in school timetables and a lack of replacement teachers.

The movement has expanded to universities, with student organisations calling for further blockades and opposing what they describe as austerity and social selection in education.

Students demand better-funded schools as protests spread across France.

Government Responds

Education Minister Édouard Geffray said students’ concerns should be heard and announced meetings with student representatives, parents and education unions.

The government also withdrew a planned registration fee for some non-scholarship students entering BTS programmes and preparatory classes. More than 400 schools were expected to switch to remote learning because of blockades or damage.

The Interior Ministry said 1,949 people were arrested across France on Thursday. More than 1,000 schools were affected, while clashes and property damage were reported in several cities.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held an emergency crisis meeting as the government described parts of the unrest as urban violence.

Government officials have attributed the esca...