French student unions vow to continue protests after government pledges 3,000 teachers

Student groups said they would keep up their campaign after the government promised to deploy about 3,000 qualified teachers to fill vacancies. The protests have disrupted schools and universities across France.

The pledge, announced by Education Minister Edouard Geffray on Thursday, addresses one of the unions’ main complaints. He said the measure would take effect immediately and cost several dozen million euros. Reuters reported that 141 schools remained closed on Friday, while a separate education ministry figure cited in the report said nearly 10% of teaching hours at state high schools were unstaffed.

The movement is in its third week and has spread beyond secondary schools to universities. Police cleared a blockade at Assas University in Paris on Friday, and demonstrations also disrupted classes at Mines Paris and the Institut Catholique. Student and teacher unions have called for another nationwide school strike on Tuesday, October 13.

The Interior Ministry said 71,500 people demonstrated across France on Thursday. Most gatherings were peaceful, though authorities reported a fire at a school in Poitiers and other incidents of vandalism and attacks on education staff.

The protests have put the government under pressure to address staffing and school conditions while limiting public spending and debt. In Belgium, unions also called a national strike on Friday over planned budget cuts and the rising cost of living.