French Students Protest as Government Promises School Crisis Plan

High school students across France staged a new day of protests on Thursday, October 8, despite government promises to address a crisis over school conditions. Demonstrations have spread in recent days, with students blocking entrances at hundreds of schools for more than a week and clashes reported in some locations. The protests have been largely peaceful, though some demonstrators have set fires and damaged bus shelters. Police have used tear gas, batons and blast balls. Students and rights groups have accused officers of using disproportionate force; Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said security forces had not been ordered to confront young people. In a televised address on Wednesday evening, Lecornu promised a government plan to respond to the crisis by the end of October. Many students remained unconvinced, with demonstrators calling for action sooner. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said an emergency plan on replacing absent teachers would be presented within hours or days, after he met students at a school in Reims. A meeting between three student associations, Geffray and Baptiste was planned for Thursday afternoon.