French Students and Teachers Protest for Education Reform: 'We Lack Everything'

Paris, France – At least 250,000 students, teachers, and parents demonstrated across France on Tuesday, with support from unions and human rights organizations. The movement began on Sept. 17 when students blockaded the gates of a high school in the Paris suburb of Creteil, then quickly spread across the Paris suburbs.

The protests stem from deteriorating school conditions, a shortage of teachers and staff, and overcrowded classrooms. Riot police were deployed to break up the blockades. More than 6,000 protesters were arrested, 85 percent of them under 18. France's police watchdog, the IGPN, has opened at least 10 investigations into police misconduct.

On Oct. 2, Education Minister Edouard Geffray met with student leaders, and the government announced a five-point plan to reform the public education system. Students, however, say the plan falls short of resolving the crisis. According to authorities, about 210 youths – one of whom lost a hand – and 715 police officers were injured.

Anne Savinel-Barras, president of Amnesty International France, urged authorities to "avoid unnecessary and excessive use of force." She said: "Videos and testimonies widely circulated over the past week have raised concerns about police use of tear gas, batons, and dangerous restraint techniques. Tear gas grenades were thrown indiscriminately, and rubber bullets were fired, causing serious injuries."

Al Jazeera spoke with several protesters about their demands.

'The Macron government must stop investing only in war'

Theo, 19, student: "This is my first protest. I came to support the high school students, after a week of blockades and police repression. I also came for other demands: for universities, more resources for schools, and not just schools but hospitals too. We really lack everything. The Macron government must stop investing only in war. We are exhausted. That's why all of us – young and old – are together in this solidarity movement. Everyone shares the same demand: a better future."

'Teachers are absent, and compared with schools in Paris, we don't have the same resources'

Olympe, 16, high school student: "We blockaded our school all week to demand our rights and denounce what is happening. Teachers are absent, and compared with schools in Paris, we don't have the same resources. We are given less money, and we don't have the same privileges."

Rania, 15, high school student: "We feel completely unheard. We feel looked down on, especially when we are the future. So when no one listens, we do all this, but in the end, will anything change? We don't know."

Maissene, student: "We came to support our classmates, simply because if they blockade, we blockade too. This is a shared movement; they can't do it alone."

'We came to protect the younger generation'

Raphael, 17, high school student: "We came to protect the younger generation. Because we are young, the state doesn't listen to us. They think we have no political awareness and don't know what we are defending. We are here to prove the opposite: we know exactly what we are defending. We know our worth."

Rose, 16, high school student: "If nothing changes, we will continue even longer. On Oct. 17 there will be a major protest with high school students, university students, and farmers. It will be like a new revolution."

'More resources, more teachers, better teaching conditions'

Clemence, 30, math teacher in Paris: "I support the high school students' movement 100 percent. Their demands are what we have been raising for years. Today, we are taking this opportunity to march with them. They are demanding more resources, more teachers, better teaching conditions. We have been asking for this for years, because the state has seriously neglected... You saw how the heatwave was handled: our classrooms were at 35-40°C. That is unacceptable."

'You can feel a lot of anger'

Clara, 20, fashion student: "I came first of all to support the high school students, who launched the strike in 93 (Seine-Saint-Denis). That's where I live, and I know these schools. They have always lived and worked in unacceptable conditions. Their demands are legitimate, and they have the right to be heard. So far I think the atmosphere is quite good. You can see everyone is mobilized, proud, and happy to be here. But you can also feel a lot of anger, because this time we want our demands to be heard, and we want everyone to listen to this younger generation, who have been complaining for years."

'We are peaceful, and they chose violence'

Tina, 20, student: "Yesterday we had a general assembly at the university, and police and riot police were called in by our own administration. We said that was unacceptable. They started blockading the university, blockading the ideal of protecting high school students and the current just cause. We saw that as abnormal, so today we came to protest with them to show our support. In the end there were no classes. We haven't finished speaking. We are peaceful, and they chose violence."