A 15-year-old student lost his hand after picking up a police sting-ball grenade in the northern town of Lens on Monday. The incident occurred amid nationwide protests in France over deteriorating classroom conditions and teacher shortages that have disrupted hundreds of schools since late September. While some students returned to classrooms, others maintained demonstrations outside school buildings ahead of larger planned protests. Protesters have voiced grievances regarding overloaded timetables, dilapidated facilities, rat infestations, and buildings unequipped for rising temperatures. Student leaders noted that deep frustration is driving the movement, which has occasionally turned violent. The French Human Rights League criticized security forces for employing disproportionate methods against minors, as more than 400 out of France’s 3,700 high schools faced partial or total closures. Protests across cities like Paris, Bordeaux, and Lille involved blocked entrances, fireworks, tear gas, and localized vandalism, with 24 schools burned or ransacked since the movement began. Authorities reported that over 5,000 individuals, predominantly minors, have been arrested. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu outlined plans to address long-term teacher absences and announced a meeting with regional presidents to tackle school infrastructure. Additionally, the government proposed legislation to hold individuals and families financially accountable for public property damage, a measure criticized by labor unions as targeting vulnerable populations ahead of upcoming elections.
Source: cbsnews.com
