PARIS (Dispatches) - Thousands joined fresh student protests across France on Tuesday, with widespread education disruptions as demonstrators demanded increased funding and better study conditions.
The Interior Ministry recorded 30,000 people at 360 gatherings outside schools during the morning and 21,000 participants in marches by midday, BFMTV reported.
The Higher Education Ministry said 35% of institutions experienced disruptions, including blockades, occupations and administrative closures. A student union separately claimed 90% of faculties were blockaded or closed.
Marches began in Lyon and Nantes, while students blockaded schools in Paris, Rennes and Strasbourg during the fifth round of mobilization, Le Parisien reported.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray told France Inter that “around 200 establishments are closed,” describing the figure as lower than the previous week.
He said a consultation platform for high school students had received 86,000 contributions and nearly 1,000 contract teachers were being recruited.
The high school students’ union confirmed it would meet Geffray on Thursday.
In Paris, students and teachers formed a peaceful human chain outside the Helene-Boucher high school. BFMTV reported one student was injured in clashes outside the Assas law faculty.
In Rennes, authorities reported a large fire outside the Emile-Zola high school and urged students to stay away from those responsible.
The Education Ministry said 147 education staff had been injured since the movement began, including 20 on Monday alone, five of them school principals. The ministry described today’s figure as the second-highest daily toll for staff since the protests began, after Oct. 1.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined protesters outside the Paul-Eluard high school in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.
Speaking to BFMTV, Thunberg denounced an “extremely violent” police force confronting young people demonstrating for “the bare minimum.”
“This shows everything about the police and who they really protect. Law enforcement is supposed to protect young people,” she said.
Meanwhile, France’s Human Rights League (LDH) said it had received around 100 complaints concerning alleged police violence through an online platform launched about a week ago to document incidents and facilitate legal action.
LDH President Nathalie Tehio condemned police conduct on France Inter, saying security forces viewed young protesters as people “to be repressed rather than protected.”
The movement’s demands include greater education spending and opposition to the Parcoursup university admissions platform.
President Emmanuel Macron urged demonstrators to remain calm and respect people and property.
More than 6,800 people, overwhelmingly minors, have been detained since the movement began, according to Le Parisien. Police watchdog IGPN has opened 24 investigations into suspected police violence.