Thousands protest over French reforms
More than 30,000 demonstrators marched across Paris today to denounce the conservative government’s budget restrictions, job cuts and other controversial reforms in France’s public education system.
Teachers, students, parents and school administrators took to the streets in the march behind a banner that read, “Education is our future,” and vowed to press on with their effort in the coming weeks.
Organisers said around 80,000 people turned out for the protest, while police put the figure at 32,000.
Pleased by the turnout, the largest union of French primary school teachers called for a national strike next month, with the proposal to be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday of various education unions.
