France: Students reject government offers, vow to keep schools barricaded

Pierre Sourzat, a spokesperson for the student group Les Lycéens, told France Info television on Monday that high school pupils should continue to barricade their schools and join street protests. The union issued this call immediately after the French government unveiled a package of education measures designed to end a crisis that has persisted for more than five weeks.

Édouard Geffray, the education minister, stated that some school buildings were in such poor condition that they were "not fit" for teaching. He announced a €4 billion loan to regional authorities to begin repairs. The funds are intended to address specific structural complaints, including collapsing ceilings, mould, broken toilets, and windows that fail to shut.

The government also proposed capping class sizes for 15-year-olds in the first year of high school at 28 students. This limit will initially apply to the 50% of schools located in the lowest-income areas before expanding to all high schools next year. Geffray confirmed that additional teaching posts would be created and that the French baccalaureate system would undergo a review.

Sourzat argued that the government needed to implement full solutions rather than partial fixes. "We want measures, not half measures," he said. Louis Letoublon, who attended a meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, noted that while the government had acknowledged the power of the student movement, not all demands had been met. He declared that the students would continue protesting for as long as necessary.

The unrest began in September with high school blockades and has since grown into the largest youth protest movement in years. Trade unions and cost-of-living protesters have joined regular Saturday demonstrations in the streets. Several children have been maimed or seriously injured during these protests, allegedly by police explosive weapons, while hundreds have been arrested and held in custody.

Authorities have tightened security and restricted demonstrations following severe violence on 17 October, which included looting and vandalism of state buildings. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that ultra-right groups arrived in "organised formations" in cities such as Nice and Montpellier at the weekend, targeting protesters. Eleven suspects are set to face charges in connection with these incidents.

President Emmanuel Macron visited Marseille on Monday and described the upcoming demonstration on 31 October as a "day of risk." He acknowledged that the country was in a state of turmoil six months before the presidential election, a contest in which far-right leader Marine Le Pen is currently leading the polls.