Students, teachers, and faculty members marched through the Pantheon district in Paris on Tuesday, November 10, to demand increased investment in the national education system.
The demonstration, which saw approximately 6,000 participants according to the Paris Police Prefecture, marked a continued push for reforms after two months of student-led mobilization, franceinfo reported.
The Ministry of National Education reported that 1.55% of its staff participated in the strike by midday.
The protest was organized by an inter-union coalition representing both secondary school students and teaching staff, who called for a nationwide day of action to maintain pressure on the government.
Protesters across the capital called for a comprehensive investment plan to address the deteriorating state of school infrastructure. Teachers joining the march highlighted the need for increased recruitment of educational personnel and the creation of additional spots within higher education institutions.
Anne-Claude Chaminas, a history and geography teacher, stated that the students’ demands reflect those held by staff for years. She expressed concern regarding the stagnation of the salary index point, which has remained unchanged since 2023, noting that inflation and rising rent costs have led to a decline in purchasing power for civil servants.
At the Jacques-Brel high school in La Courneuve, about 15 teachers joined their students in the Paris march to show solidarity. “It’s a generation that is aware of everything happening in society and wants to fight for its future and the future of the entire society,” said Aurélien Gavois, a literature teacher at the school.
Mathieu, a social and economic sciences teacher in Paris, noted that he was impressed by the organizational intelligence shown by his students throughout the movement. “I’ve seen students who are rather shy responding to interviews from journalists,” he said.
The coalition is demanding a major investment plan for school buildings, the hiring of more staff, and the expansion of higher education capacity. Teachers are also calling for salary increases to offset the loss of purchasing power due to the lack of movement in the civil service index point since 2023.
The Ministry of National Education officially tracked the movement, reporting that 1.55% of its staff participated in the strike as of midday on Tuesday. The Paris Police Prefecture monitored the event, estimating the crowd size at approximately 6,000 people.
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