High school students and their supporters flooded Paris’ historic Place de la Bastille on Thursday, triggering another violent confrontation with police as protesters dismissed the Education Ministry’s promises of reform as nothing more than “hot air.”
The unrest has now entered its third week. Police used water cannons and tear gas against teenagers and teachers who occupied the landmark square, a symbolic site associated with the beginning of the French Revolution.
Footage from the scene showed demonstrators clashing with riot officers across the plaza. Water sprayed over protest signs while thick clouds of tear gas drifted through the crowd.
As demonstrations continued in Paris and other parts of France, the Education Ministry argued that Thursday’s turnout suggested the movement may be losing momentum. The protests center on deteriorating school conditions, which demonstrators link to the country’s struggling economy.
The ministry said 224 schools were closed Thursday morning because of the unrest, but that figure had fallen to 157 by lunchtime. Overall, officials reported that 96% of schools remained open.
The Interior Ministry estimated that 71,500 people took part in the demonstrations, a sharp decline from Tuesday, when more than 266,000 protesters were reported nationwide.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray sought to respond to the unrest by meeting students and teachers in Reims. The government also unveiled an emergency package aimed at addressing several of the protesters’ demands.
Geffray promised to create a long-term system for replacing teachers who are absent and said officials were reviewing demanding school schedules.
FIND OUT MORE: Logan Federico’s Father Says Victims Are Ignored, Seeks Registry
Student representatives, however, rejected the announcements, accusing the government of offering empty promises.
“Our demands must be heard,” student union leader Ryad Rani said in a statement. He also called for a nationwide protest and strike on Oct. 17.
“The mobilization will continue. We are not backing down on anything,” Rani added.
French public opinion remains divided. An Elabe poll conducted for BFM TV found that 72% of respondents believe students have valid complaints about the country’s education system.
At the same time, 55% said the demonstrations had gone too far, amid growing concern over the increasingly dangerous clashes.
The unrest has also reached beyond France. Students in Belgium took to the streets over overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources and heavier workloads for teachers.
Demonstrations calling for greater higher-education funding were also held in Ireland and Germany this month. Students in Greece and Austria have announced plans for protests of their own.
With Post Wires
MORE ON THIS: CCTV Footage Reveals Final Moments in Bali Murder-Suicide
