News about education

The movement began with student protests in late September over run-down public schools and has grown into a nationwide movement against rising living costs, including high fuel prices. Protesters cited teacher shortages, dilapidated classrooms and an opaque university admissions system, while fuel costs rose partly due to the Middle East war. Violence and looting in several cities led to about 1,800 arrests, damage to about 1,500 businesses, and around 500 police, firefighters and paramedics injured. The government plans to deploy 3,000 more substitute teachers and drop a planned rise in university registration fees, but has signaled limits to further concessions. The interior ministry estimated 550,000 people joined nationwide protests, while the CGT put turnout at 800,000.