Paris: France’s high-school student protests have intensified, with demonstrations over education conditions increasingly turning into a wider public-order challenge.
More than 400 schools remained closed on Friday as authorities struggled to contain days of unrest nationwide. While many students continued to protest peacefully, clashes with police, barricades and fires were reported in some areas.
The protests began over concerns about France’s education system. Students say schools are facing overcrowded classrooms, shortages of teachers and problems replacing absent staff. They have also raised concerns about the poor condition of some school buildings and a lack of adequate resources.
In Strasbourg, eastern France, young protesters built barricades as police used tear gas. Demonstrations in cities including Lyon were comparatively more peaceful, according to cnn.com.
Student representatives have attempted to distance their movement from the violence. Following discussions with Education Minister Édouard Geffray, parents and school staff, representatives called for protests to continue without violence.
Nathanaël Combary of the Renouveau Lyceen student union said those involved in urban violence were not representing the students’ demands and that the student movement did not support the unrest.
The government, however, is increasingly treating the situation as a public-order issue.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin warned on Friday that the unrest could continue into the weekend. He said the situation had moved beyond student demonstrations and had become a matter of public order.
Authorities in several areas introduced restrictions on gatherings around schools that were closed because of the unrest. Despite those measures, tensions continued.
Darmanin also suggested that parents could be required to pay for damage caused by their children. The proposal was rejected by the far-left France Unbowed party, which described the idea as absurd.
The protests have also triggered a wider political confrontation in France.
President Emmanuel Macron criticized elected officials whom he believed were appearing to legitimize violence. Meanwhile, the hard-right National Rally accused its political opponents on the hard left of contributing to the unrest.
The political dispute comes as France approaches next year’s presidential election, adding further tension to the situation.
The protests are also expected to continue. Nationwide union-led demonstrations supporting the high-school students are planned for Tuesday.
