فرنسا تحاول احتواء غضب الطلاب.. 5 مسارات حكومية لإنهاء الاحتجاجات

The French government is seeking to contain a wave of student protests that has been growing since late September by launching five action paths and responding to a number of educational demands, while high school students are preparing to organize new demonstrations today (Thursday), amid fears of escalating social unrest seven months before the presidential elections.

French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced in a televised speech last night (Wednesday) that the government will present its first concrete measures by the end of October, emphasizing that the students' anger "is not unfounded," and that their demands and concerns deserve to be taken seriously.

The government's plan includes replacing absent teachers, improving the conditions of educational buildings and facilities, reconsidering the organization of study times, enhancing transparency in the "Parcoursup" platform for university guidance, as well as exploring a clearer framework for high school students' participation in expressing their opinions and decision-making.

Borne clarified that the national education budget for 2027 will reach 64 billion euros, an increase of 1.2 billion euros from last year, confirming that education is among the few sectors that will see an increase in its allocations. However, she ruled out responding to the education unions' demands for a larger increase in spending, amounting to 10 billion euros, amid the government's efforts to reduce public debt.

Associations representing high school students have called for a meeting with the Prime Minister, while the Ministers of Education and Higher Education are meeting representatives of the three main student organizations in an attempt to open a direct dialogue and end the protests that began on September 28 in the suburbs of Paris, in protest against deteriorating educational conditions, overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of substitute teachers, and dilapidated buildings, in addition to calls for the abolition of the "Parcoursup" platform.

The government is trying to calm the streets through a "consultation platform" that has received more than 40,000 contributions from students, along with allocating study periods free of lessons to allow for discussions about issues within educational institutions. However, these initiatives have been met with criticism from students and unions who believe that the measures do not meet the scale of the demands.

The intensity of the protests decreased on Wednesday, with classes being fully or partially suspended in 459 institutions, compared to 891 institutions on Tuesday, while the unrest extended to higher education, with about 40% of its institutions experiencing disruptions.

In parallel with the political efforts, the Ministry of the Interior suspended the use of sound bombs during the handling of student protests, following the injury of a 15-year-old boy who lost his hand in an incident in the city of Lens. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced the opening of investigations into the circumstances of the incident, while security forces are facing criticism from human rights groups and politicians for alleged excessive use of force.

Borne stated that 215 students, 89 teachers, and 761 police and gendarmerie officers have been injured since the start of the movement, while 6,629 people have been arrested and the authorities have opened 18 investigations, confirming that security forces have not received instructions to confront students, and that their mission is to protect people and property and to respond proportionately.

A large gathering is scheduled to take place in the Place de la Bastille in Paris, along with protests in the suburbs of the capital and other cities, with 55% of the French public supporting the movement, according to a survey conducted by "BFM TV."