French Student Unions Vow to Continue Protests Amid Education Funding Crisis

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, protests by French students have entered their third week and have expanded with the participation of students from prestigious Paris universities. Protesters contend that reduced public spending, driven by a budget crisis, is exacerbating problems within the education system.

The French government has pledged to deploy approximately 3,000 qualified teachers who have not yet begun their assignments to schools to address the shortage of educational staff. This initiative will be implemented immediately and is expected to cost tens of millions of euros. Student unions have recognized this decision as a significant initial achievement of the protests but are calling for the continuation of demonstrations and a nationwide school strike next Tuesday.

Official figures from the French Ministry of Education indicate that nearly 10 percent of teaching hours in public high schools across France are currently unfilled due to a lack of teachers. This crisis presents the government with the challenge of increasing educational expenditures amid substantial public debt.

The French Ministry of the Interior reported that 71,500 individuals participated in protests on Thursday. While most gatherings were peaceful, instances of violence and property damage were reported, including a fire at a school in the city of Poitiers.

Concurrently, in Belgium, two major labor unions initiated a strike to protest austerity measures and rising living costs. This action disrupted public transportation, schools, and flights.