Across France, high school students have been taking action to protest underinvestment in education and worsening learning conditions, including teacher shortages, dilapidated school buildings, unmanageable timetables, and barriers to continuing their education.
These are legitimate demands, supported by education unions that have been campaigning on these issues for many years. Students and their teachers are calling for an education system that delivers equality of opportunity, properly funded public schools, and the resources needed for every young person to succeed.
The NEU supports French education unions - including FSU, the UNSA Education, the FNEC FP FO, the CFDT Education, Training and Public Research, the CGT Educ'action, and SUD Education - in mobilising this week alongside the high school student movement and demanding urgent investment in public education. Union members have also provided support to students and staff who have been injured in the protests and by the police response.
The NEU condemns all acts of violence associated with the protests. Everyone must be able to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of violence or repression. No student, educator or trade unionist should be harmed for participating in democratic protest. Violence and police repression should not be the response to the legitimate concerns being raised by the majority of protestors.
We join French education unions in calling for an immediate end to the violence and for urgent action by the French government to invest in education, improve teachers’ working conditions, and ensure all children have the learning conditions they need to thrive.