OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:52 PM PT — Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018
Students in France are launching a new wave of protests as they demand changes to the government’s education reform. Thousands of students set fires and blocked schools across the country Tuesday.
The students expressed anger over President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to change end-of-school exams and replace general classes for more specific courses.
Students are also demanding the repeal of a reform that was passed last year, which makes admission into universities more difficult.
Students opposing changes in key high school tests demonstrate with a banner reading “We are education” Tuesday Dec.11, 2018 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged he’s partially responsible for the anger that has fueled weeks of protests in France, an unusual admission for the leader elected last year. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
“Emmanuel Macron made announcements yesterday about the yellow vests, on fiscal policies and taxes, but he made no announcement and no mention of the youth, the high school students’ movement, the students’ movement, their protests, he didn’t mention anything at all…that’s what the problem is and so, we are fighting so that we can make ourselves heard by the government,” stated Jules Spector, Secretary General of the FIDL Union.
While Macron is continuing to express sympathy for the demonstrating students, he also warned violence will not be tolerated.
