France is bracing for major protests on Tuesday after organisers called for a nationwide day of action in support of students demanding more investment in education.
The protests follow a week of demonstrations that saw students blockade hundreds of schools, at least 190 students injured and more than 5,000 people arrested.
A 15-year-old student had his hand blown off during a confrontation on Monday, while another student was reportedly struck in the head by a tear gas grenade last week.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government had announced measures to address students’ demands.
But the Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL), one of the main groups organising the protests, said the government had offered “nothing concrete”.
The organisation called on people to join Tuesday’s mobilisation in response to “this political deadlock and what we describe as unprecedented repression of the movement”.
Other organisations have backed the students, with teachers’ union SNES-FSU urging its members to join Tuesday’s protest.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the radical-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party, described the demonstrations as the “most powerful high school and university student youth movement” since 1968, when France experienced major unrest and millions of workers went on strike.
The demonstrations began in Paris in September and have since spread across the country.
Students are protesting over several issues, including overcrowded classrooms, poorly maintained school buildings and a shortage of teachers.
The protests began among high school students before university students joined the movement.
On Sunday, Lecornu announced measures to “address the difficulties faced by secondary school students and education staff”, promising “visible changes” in schools.
However, he also said: “We will make no concessions to violence. We stand by students and staff who have been assaulted, as well as police officers and gendarmes who have been injured.”
The unrest has included school blockades and rubbish bins being set on fire.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray said 24 schools had been “burned and ransacked” since the protests began.
Violent clashes between students and police have also resulted in serious injuries.
On Monday, a 15-year-old boy’s hand was blown off during a confrontation near a school in the northern city of Lens. He was taken to a nearby hospital and his injury is not considered life-threatening, according to officials.
Last week, 14-year-old Eden was badly injured in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône after reportedly being struck on the head by a tear gas grenade.
His lawyer said the student suffered “a double jaw fracture” and required “extremely major surgery”.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Eden’s mother said her heart was “shattered”.
“It’s shameful, it’s appalling, it’s violent, it’s horrific,” French media outlet BFMTV reported her as saying.
“This should not happen. They are dealing with children who are asking for better conditions in which to study.”
France’s justice ministry said 5,060 people had been arrested since the movement began, with 87% of those arrested being minors and 13% adults.
Fourteen people have reportedly been placed in pre-trial detention, while 1,802 people are facing prosecution. They include 319 adults and 1,483 minors.
The USL has accused police of using excessive force against protesters.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez rejected the allegation last week, saying the demonstrations had been policed in “an extremely proportionate manner”.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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