France’s government has offered to send 3,000 supply teachers to schools facing the worst staff shortages, in its first concrete response to weeks of student protests, reported by The Nation.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced the plan in a television interview on Thursday, after another day of demonstrations that sometimes turned violent. The government says 6,877 people have been arrested since the protests began; 86 percent were under 18.
Unions called Thursday’s protests the movement’s “Act Four.” About 71,000 people took part across France, including 24,000 in Paris, where demonstrators gathered near the Bastille. Police used tear gas against groups throwing paving stones and homemade fireworks. A high school in Bordeaux was ransacked, while a deputy head in Marseille was beaten.
The unrest centres on demands for more resources in secondary education. Students and unions say lessons are regularly lost when absent teachers are not replaced. Geffray said new ministry software would help direct supply teachers to about 500 lycées considered most in need. Many are expected to be in city suburbs with high levels of immigration, where staff shortages are especially severe.
The minister also pledged more funding for a scheme that pays teachers to work overtime, and said students’ concerns would be considered in talks on the 2027 state budget. But he did not promise major new investment, and student leaders said they wanted to see results.
“We’ve had some announcements which correspond to part of our demands,” said Nathanaël Combary of the moderate lycée union Renouveau Lycéen. “But obviously people want to see the money and more concrete results.”
Sabrine Kharbach of the Union Etudiante said the protests would continue without a €10 billion commitment. Jean-Luc Mélenchon praised the demonstrations, while National Rally spokesman Laurent Jacobelli accused the government of rewarding violence.
On Friday, about 140 of France’s 3,500 lycées were fully or partly closed, fewer than on earlier days. Unions have called another day of action for Tuesday.
The protests are unfolding amid wider anger over fuel prices and pressure on farmers. A revived “yellow vest” movement has called for demonstrations on 17 October, as France approaches presidential elections next spring. The government is hoping school holidays and colder, wetter weather will ease tensions.
