From RFI · · 1m 50s
French students reject minister, join Yellow Vests protest
High school unions walk out on education talks and call students to join nationwide demonstrations alongside workers' groups over living costs and school conditions.
In brief
High school unions walk out on education talks and call students to join nationwide demonstrations alongside workers' groups over living costs and school conditions. French high school students rejected talks with Education Minister Édouard Geffray and joined the Yellow Vests movement for a nationwide protest on…
Students walk out on minister
High school unions met with French Education Minister Édouard Geffray on Thursday evening for the third time since protests began in mid-September. They left disappointed and refused a Monday meeting.
“We walked out of the meeting because we weren't being heard”
Unions escalate to Prime Minister
The Union syndicale lycéenne and Les Lycéens unions say they will now engage directly with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's office instead of the Ministry of Education.
What students are demanding
Student organisations want concrete announcements on school infrastructure, the Parcoursup higher education admissions system and class schedules. These issues lie at the heart of their demonstrations.
Government's partial response
Education Minister Geffray said two thousand substitute teachers have been assigned since Friday out of three thousand promised. Changes to Parcoursup will apply to current final-year high school students at the end of October.
“A significant step has been taken toward addressing their demands.”
Yellow Vests call students to join
The Yellow Vests movement has called on students to join a nationwide demonstration on Saturday. Authorities expect between seventy thousand and one hundred forty thousand people to demonstrate across France.
Unions align on economic demands
CGT union leader Sophie Binet says the common thread uniting all protesters is that government must fund education by taking money from billionaires and large corporations. She disputes claims the student movement is losing steam.
“the government must take the money from where it actually is, from the pockets of billionaires... and the largest corporations”
Police authorised to use stun grenades
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that intermediate weapons including stun grenades could be authorised during Saturday's protests if extremely serious urban violence occurs. Around two hundred fifty demonstrations and eighty marches are authorised.
“police officers and gendarmes must be able to use all the weapons at their disposal”
What matters most
French high school students rejected talks with Education Minister Édouard Geffray and joined the Yellow Vests movement for a nationwide protest on Saturday over school conditions and cost of living.
