France to suspend high school classes at end of week amid student protests

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced Tuesday that high school classes will be suspended toward the end of the week to provide “a time for internal democracy” amid student mobilizations and violence.

Lecornu said there could be “no room for tolerance for violence” and urged the political class to “stand together” with public servants affected by the violence.

“In a functioning democracy, individual responsibility of individuals, citizens, including minors, exists,” said Lecornu. “Burning down a high school does not improve the condition of high school buildings.”

“Lynching a teacher does not improve the teacher replacement rate,” he said.

The student-led movement began in late September because of complaints about staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate school facilities. Blockades and demonstrations have since spread to schools in several French cities.

The largely peaceful movement has seen violent incidents, including fires, property damage and attacks on staff and police, according to authorities.

Lecornu addressed high school students who have been injured by security forces during the mobilizations.

“Can accidents happen? The answer is yes,” he said, criticizing the term “police violence.”

“Where there are accidents, there must be administrative and judicial investigations. There must be accountability and empathy,” said Lecornu.

He described the situation as “the heaviest toll in decades in the national education system.”

Lecornu said “ultraviolence has knocked on the door of these high schools” and described the “normalization of violence” as unacceptable.

“Justice will have to take its course,” he added.