As 735 schools across France faced disruption on Friday, October 2, students at Lycée Le Corbusier in Aubervilliers, Seine-Saint-Denis, made clear their determination to continue mobilizing in the coming days, organizing their efforts and joining forces with other schools in the department.
Among the students gathered outside the school was Shaima, a final-year pupil, who framed the movement’s future as contingent on the government’s response.
“Burned trash cans, they’ll get over it. Here, we’re fighting for a cause that’s truly worth it,” she said. “What happens next? It really depends on what the state does. Our reaction will depend on what they give us. If they keep giving us nothing, or just crumbs…”
Demands for Education Funding and Emergency Plans
Standing beside her, Antoine, sign in hand, nodded in agreement.
“The proof is right here — we’re managing to mobilize, we’re managing to freeze the country,” he said. “Soon, I dare hope at least that the state will have the intelligence to give more budget to education, as is being demanded, and emergency plans for the 93.”
Students are calling for concrete action and clear positions from the government, a demand made more urgent by the presidential election now just six months away, according to Livi.
“It’s really bad timing because with the presidential election, we know very well there won’t be any major decisions before the vote. And at some point, we can’t have classes under these conditions. Teaching under these conditions is no longer possible,” she said.
General Assemblies Planned to Build a Structured Movement
Several general assemblies are scheduled in the coming days.
“The goal is obviously to organize ourselves because I think if we want to be heard, we need to be structured,” Livi continued. “We’re going to try to join forces with other schools in the 93. ‘In the street today so we don’t have to be tomorrow’ — that’s what’s written here.”
These students from Seine-Saint-Denis are all joining the national mobilization planned for Tuesday, October 6, and hope to build a broader coalition.
- 735 schools were disrupted across France on Friday, October 2
- Students at Lycée Le Corbusier demand increased education budgets and emergency plans for Seine-Saint-Denis
- General assemblies are planned to structure the movement and unite with other schools in the department
- A national mobilization is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6
