France: Trade unions join students in major demonstration

Tens of thousands are expected at nationwide protests against poor learning conditions for students in France.

A day of nationwide blockades and street protests are planned on Tuesday in France, led by high-school and trade union groups. Tens of thousands are expected to take to the streets.

The demonstrations are part of a movement that sprung in recent weeks demanding that french President Emmanuel Macron's government tackle understaffed and underfunded schools.

Protests that began in Paris's deprived suburbs have now spread across the country, including pupils from affluent areas who have joined in solidarity.

Hundreds of high school entrances have been blocked by student protesters since late September. The students have decried poor learning conditions, such as missing teachers, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms and buildings that are not suitable for high temperatures.

While many of the demonstrations have been peaceful, some protesters have lit trash can fires, destroyed bus shelters or clashed with riot police, who have responded with batons, tear gas and riot-control rounds, with authorities accusing the movement of having devolved into urban violence.

Police accused of brutality towards children

The country's Justice Ministry said that 5,060 people have been arrested since the protests began. Some 87% of those taken into custody were minors.

Over 1,800 people face charges, including 1,483 minors, the ministry said, without ​providing details of what they had been accused of, although some 790 cases have alaready been dismissed.

Trade unions and human rights groups have accused the police of using disproportionate force on children. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday that police have launched 10 internal investigations into allegations of brutality since the protests started.

Among the reports, a 15-year-old  lost his hand at a protest in the northern town of Lens, a 16-year-old lost the use of his right eye after being seriously injured in the head in the central town of Tours, while in Saint-Ouen-L'Aumone, northwest of Paris, a 14-year-old lost most of his teeth when a police officer appeared to fire a projectile at him at very close range.

Government promises response

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said he had ‌ordered government ministers to study the students' leading demands.

Among the demands the government will be tackling are ensuring absent teachers are replaced, reviewing the ‌length ​of the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. school day and the need for longer lunch breaks.

The government has promised to also look at repairs needed to ageing school buildings.

Lecornu said ministers are expected to submit their first proposals by the end of October. The ​protests have put pressure on a government that has sought to narrow a ballooning budget deficit.

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher

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