French students continue to protest across the country as they demand better education conditions, with over 71,500 participants in Thursday's demonstrations. The protests, which have seen over 6,000 arrests since September, have led to clashes with police and raised concerns about the state of public schools.
The protests, fueled by frustrations over classroom conditions and poor building maintenance, have seen students barricade schools and clash with riot police. Education Minister Edouard Geffray has promised to address the issue with an 'emergency plan' for teacher replacements, but critics argue that the government's response is insufficient.
The government has faced pressure to address the crisis, with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu promising 'concrete, quick, and fully funded responses' by October. However, students and rights groups continue to call for action, highlighting the need for urgent reforms to the education system.
The protests have also drawn international attention, with President Trump criticizing the demonstrations as being fueled by 'out-of-control mass migration', a claim the French government has dismissed.