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A banner in the schoolyard or a symbol made out of schoolbags. That’s how Cyprus’ national student committee is asking pupils to show support for their French counterparts on Thursday, as students and workers in France prepare for a nationwide day of protests.
The Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Students, known as PSEM, invited pupils at middle schools, high schools and technical schools to take part during their second break. The committee’s vice president, Doros Leonidou, told ANT1 that students at each school could decide how to show their support. The activities were planned for break time so lessons could go ahead as usual.
PSEM said it backed French pupils’ calls for more teachers, a chance to make up missed lessons and improvements to school buildings. The committee raised a concern familiar to many parents in Cyprus. When classes are missed, it said, a child’s chance to catch up should never depend on whether the family can afford private tutoring.
How the protests grew in France
The movement began in September with French high school students protesting teacher shortages, deteriorating school buildings, and a university admissions system they said put disadvantaged pupils at a disadvantage. Trade unions and other groups joined in, bringing wider grievances over the rising cost of living and the state of public services.
An Oct. 17 day of protests drew about 550,000 people across France, according to government estimates reported by The Associated Press. Many marched peacefully, but some groups clashed with police, looted shops, and damaged public buildings. Further rallies on Oct. 31 were largely peaceful, with some clashes on the fringes.
Thursday’s strikes and marches were called by trade unions and backed by student groups. France’s Education Ministry expected about one in six public primary school teachers to strike, while unions warned of disruption to trains and public transport. President Emmanuel Macron convened a security meeting Wednesday as his government sought to avoid a repeat of the October violence.
