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French basketball star Victor Wembanyama has backed high school students protesting over poor school conditions, telling them 'I hear you' as around 71,500 people marched across France, including 24,500 in Paris. The Spurs player said he understood their fight, recalling his own time at a high school in Nanterre that was a stronghold of student blockades.
Protests resumed at schools across France on Thursday as high school students continued to demand higher education budgets and better learning conditions, a day after the prime minister ordered ministers to draft an action plan. Dozens of people, including students, teachers and police, have been injured, with human rights groups accusing security forces of excessive force and authorities reporting thousands of arrests and hundreds of schools closed or damaged.
Tens of thousands of students and activists have taken to the streets across France, escalating pressure on the government over education policy. Police fired tear gas at demonstrators blockading high schools, with clashes erupting in cities including Strasbourg, Lyon and Rennes. The protests, which began two weeks ago in Paris suburbs, have led to 6,100 arrests and injuries to at least 215 teenagers and 715 police officers.
A survey by Japan's Ministry of Education found that 54.6% of public school ninth graders have English proficiency at or above Eiken Grade 3, enabling basic daily conversation. This marks a slight increase from 52.3% the previous year, but only 38.2% of senior high school students reached a higher level, missing the government's 50% target.
