French students block 375 schools on fourth day of protests
Classes were fully or partly halted at 375 French schools on Thursday as high school students held a fourth day of protests, the education ministry said. That is about 30% fewer than Wednesday. Education Minister Édouard Geffray planned to meet student groups at 3 p.m. Paris time.
French high school students blocked schools again on Thursday for a fourth day of protests. Classes were "totally or partly suspended" at 375 of the country's 3,700 schools, the education ministry said in early figures. Of those, 224 were fully closed and 151 partly reopened.
The ministry said the number was about 30% lower than at the same time Wednesday. It stressed that 94% of schools were open in full or in part. On Wednesday, more than 450 schools had been disrupted or blocked, La Croix reported.
Students and university groups say schools lack money and staff. Some also object to Parcoursup, the national system that sorts students into universities. "We'll be here every day if we have to," one student in Tours told La Croix. Teachers' unions called on staff to strike and join the students, Sud Ouest reported.
The protests have turned violent at times. Since they began, 215 students and 85 school staff have been hurt, along with nearly 800 police officers and gendarmes, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said, according to La Croix. Police watchdogs have opened 18 investigations.
The government is trying to cool things down. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said in a recorded speech that "no one can be indifferent" to students' worries. He said police have no orders to confront them. The government has promised new steps within about 10 days, during the fall school break.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray visited a vocational high school in Reims on Thursday. Trash cans were set on fire there in recent days, and staff got death threats online, TF1 Info reported. His office said he would host the three high school student groups at the ministry at 3 p.m. Paris time, or 9 a.m. ET, along with the higher education minister.
Student groups want more than talks. They have asked to meet Lecornu himself to push for urgent measures.
In Paris, a private high school canceled morning classes after a group blocked the entrance, CNews reported. The Catholic Institute of Paris was also blocked.
What we know: Blockades are down from Wednesday, but still hit 375 schools.
What we don't: Whether Thursday's meeting with student groups brings any deal.
Where outlets agree TF1 Info, La Croix and CNews all cite the ministry's count of 224 schools fully closed and 151 partly reopened Thursday morning.
Where they differ The ministry says the movement is shrinking, while student and teacher groups say talks are not enough and are pressing for urgent measures.