بعد أسابيع من الاضطرابات.. عودة احتجاجات طلابية محدودة في فرنسا

The "Generation Z" protests returned to the streets of France today (Monday) as classes resumed after a two-week holiday, amid student attempts to close several high schools and rising demands for educational system reform, increased university enrollment opportunities, and improved living conditions.

Despite the government's pledge to inject 4 billion euros to renovate schools, student representatives believe these measures still fall short of their aspirations, signaling the continuation of the wave of protests.

These actions come as an extension of a wave of student protests that began in the suburbs of Paris last September, before spreading to various regions of the country, with demands extending beyond education to include rising living costs and economic conditions, as union members and activists joined the protests, some of which witnessed clashes and violence.

Hundreds of high schools, out of more than 3,000 schools in France, faced closures or attempted closures in the weeks leading up to the holiday.

Government: Closure Attempts Are Limited

Commenting on the return of the protests, French Education Minister Edouard Geffray stated in remarks to France Inter radio on Monday morning that attempts to close schools remain very limited and do not exceed a few educational institutions.

The minister confirmed that protests are allowed, but preventing students and staff from accessing schools is considered illegal.

Television footage showed police presence near several schools, without wearing full riot gear.

Demands for School Development and Increased University Opportunities

The protesting students are raising a set of demands, the most prominent of which include renovating old and dilapidated schools, providing more teachers, increasing the number of available spots in universities, and abolishing the current university admission system, which they believe does not achieve social justice and equal opportunities among students.

These demands fall within a broader wave of youth protests known as "Generation Z Protests," which have spread to several European countries, including Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Albania, driven by concerns about rising living costs, declining education quality, and perceived corruption in institutions.

4 Billion Euros for School Development... and Students Reject Proposals

In an attempt to contain student anger, the French Education Minister presented a set of reform proposals last week, which included capping the maximum number of students in a single class at 28, and allocating 4 billion euros for school renovations, equivalent to about 4.47 billion dollars.

The proposals also included providing an additional 15,000 spots for students in higher education institutions and establishing a new university admission system by 2028.

Despite these commitments, representatives of high school students deemed the government measures insufficient to meet their demands, affirming their determination to continue protests and push for broader reforms.

A New Test for Macron's Government

The return of student movements poses a new test for the French government, which faces increasing political and social challenges, especially after last month's protests in several cities turned into violent confrontations with police and riots, including looting of stores and public and private properties.

These developments place President Emmanuel Macron's government before a new challenge to contain youth anger and achieve a balance between ensuring the right to protest and maintaining the regularity of the educational process, amid ongoing disputes over the adequacy of the proposed reforms to respond to student demands.