In a wave of demonstrations that have swept across France, school students, parents, and university activists have taken to the streets demanding increased funding for education and a reduction in police repression.
Hundreds of thousands gathered in major cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Rennes, with high‑school pupils marching from Place de la République in Paris and calling for improved resources.
Police forces responded aggressively, deploying tear gas in Paris and Marseille and water cannons in Rennes. Despite the heavy-handed tactics, clashes remained largely non‑violent, though they marked a stark contrast to previous, more turbulent protests.
BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake, reporting from Lille, notes that while the intensity of the crackdown has drawn criticism, the movement’s reach and intensity signal a growing unrest that could reshape national policy on education.
