Why are students protesting?
Many high school students say the state of their learning environment is poor, from decaying infrastructure to a lack of teachers. More than half of all schools in France are short-staffed this year, according to a survey conducted by a secondary school teachers’ union.
The shortage has affected public education in France for close to a decade. The chronic failure to replace absent teachers or hire substitutes means students can miss hundreds of hours of instruction.
The students say they are also fed up with overcrowded classrooms, with an average of 25-30 students a class.
They also describe dilapidated buildings, pest infestations — including cockroaches and rats — and uninsulated classrooms severely affected by temperature shifts, particularly during recent heat waves.
Students and their supporters have taken to the streets for weeks because they feel the government is doing too little, too late. The Education Ministry will receive an additional 1.2 billion euros ($1.9 billion Cdn.) in funding next year — but that won’t be enough, according to opposition parties, who say the amount barely keeps up with inflation.