header logo
Vallibel FD
vallible LE
Latest
French school blockades to restart from Monday: Student group
French school blockades to restart from Monday: Student group
Mobitel inner 1278

The head of a student group said a campaign of high school blockades would restart from Monday (Nov 2), adding the government's proposals did not go far enough.

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people, including high school and university students, took to the streets across France for a third consecutive weekend of protests.

Some high schools will be blockaded from Monday, when students return from a two-week holiday, said Pierre Sourzat, head of the "Lyceens!" group.

"It will be more significant from Tuesday, but we know that some schools will be blocked as early as tomorrow," he told broadcaster RMC on Sunday.

"We support all our comrades who are blocking their schools from tomorrow," he added.

France's protest movement against soaring prices emerged from weeks of demonstrations by high school students protesting deteriorating learning conditions and inequality.

On Monday, the government announced a series of measures aimed at addressing student protesters' demands, including replacing the university admissions platform and providing loans for school renovations.

Students said the proposals did not go far enough.

On Saturday, Sabrine Kharbach, spokeswoman for the Union Etudiante (Student Union), said blockades of universities and high schools would take place on Tuesday and Thursday.

President Emmanuel Macron has called for classes to resume in a calm manner, arguing that "young people have been heard".

Sourzat countered that "the president hasn't listened to us".

"It's smoke and mirrors," he said. "There's a bit of polish on the surface, but once you scratch beneath it, there's nothing there."

Sourzat said the proposed overhaul of the university admissions platform, long criticised for its lack of transparency, failed to address the shortage of places in higher education.

He also dismissed the government's plan to reduce class sizes as insufficient, noting that it would apply only to 10th-grade classes.

"We were asking for all year groups," he said.

With the eurozone's second-largest economy on the brink of recession and under pressure to rein in its debt, the government has limited scope to appease student protesters through additional spending.

Source: AFP
– Agencies

MostRead
Mobitel 1278
VideoStories
Taxpayer Identification Number to be mandatory  for certain transactions from Nov. 1

Taxpayer Identification Number to be mandatory for certain transactions from Nov. 1

16-year-old hospitalised with gunshot wounds  after police fire on three-wheeler in Kadawatha

16-year-old hospitalised with gunshot wounds after police fire on three-wheeler in Kadawatha

'Kassapa Thero and I visited the hotel on separate days'- Sarath Weerasekara responds to controversy

'Kassapa Thero and I visited the hotel on separate days'- Sarath Weerasekara responds to controversy

Litro Gas orders 44,000MT of LPG for November  to meet increased demand

Litro Gas orders 44,000MT of LPG for November to meet increased demand

 Opposition Leader visits Lunugamvehera to assess human-elephant conflict

Opposition Leader visits Lunugamvehera to assess human-elephant conflict

 Suspected thief tied to a tree and assaulted by villagers dies while in police custody

Suspected thief tied to a tree and assaulted by villagers dies while in police custody

 Several bank accounts of Rakitha Rajapakshe suspended;Rs. 40M found in frozen bank accounts?

Several bank accounts of Rakitha Rajapakshe suspended;Rs. 40M found in frozen bank accounts?

 Human Rights Watch raises concern over proposed Prevention of Organised Crime Bill

Human Rights Watch raises concern over proposed Prevention of Organised Crime Bill

Death of youth in Homagama Police custody: Police officers failed to follow proper procedures – SDIG

Death of youth in Homagama Police custody: Police officers failed to follow proper procedures – SDIG

 Police will not ‘whitewash’ officers involved in wrongdoing-Spokesman assures very strong action

Police will not ‘whitewash’ officers involved in wrongdoing-Spokesman assures very strong action

Sri Lanka's foreign reserves projected to exceed $8 billion by year end - CBSL Governor

Sri Lanka's foreign reserves projected to exceed $8 billion by year end - CBSL Governor

 Udaya Gammanpila files writ petition challenging court order on Satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park

Udaya Gammanpila files writ petition challenging court order on Satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park

Court to deliver ruling on MP Namal Rajapaksa’s bail application on Nov. 3

Court to deliver ruling on MP Namal Rajapaksa’s bail application on Nov. 3

Cyclone Arnab makes landfall in India

Cyclone Arnab makes landfall in India

 Sri Lanka's foreign reserves projected to exceed $8 billionby year end, says CBSL Governor

Sri Lanka's foreign reserves projected to exceed $8 billionby year end, says CBSL Governor

Lassana Flora