In Besançon, teachers are protesting against overcrowded classrooms and a lack of resources for students.
In Besançon, the public sector demonstration on Tuesday, September 29, also highlighted a concrete issue for teenagers: under what conditions do they learn when school staff say they lack resources? The rally brought together between 1,250 people, according to the police, and 1,650, according to the CGT union, according to France 3. National Education and hospital staff were among the marchers.
Classes where providing support becomes difficult
A teacher at Diderot middle school, located in a reinforced priority education network (REP+), described eighth-grade classes with 26 students. According to his testimony, reported by France 3, this class size complicates individual monitoring and classroom work. This is an observation reported by a teacher at this school, and not an average applicable to all middle schools.
REP+ schools are priority education networks where schools cater to students facing greater social and academic challenges. The Ministry of National Education presents this policy as a way to concentrate additional resources in the areas concerned. This does not mean that each class will be small or that support needs will automatically be met. ( eduscol.education.gouv.fr )
For middle school students, the number of staff members and the availability of adults can be important factors in their learning conditions and access to support. However, the report does not address the impact of the described situation on student performance; it focuses instead on the concerns of a teacher and the demands of the staff.
Salaries and resources of public services
The unions involved in the protests are demanding, in particular, an increase in the index point, which is used to calculate civil servants’ base salaries. The last general increase indicated by the official civil service portal dates from July 1, 2023: +1.5%, following a 3.5% increase on July 1, 2022. The demonstrators are calling for a further increase and its indexation to inflation; these are demands, not a mere announcement. ( fonction-publique.gouv.fr )
The consequences of insufficient resources extend beyond schools. Hospital staff present in Besançon also advocated for the opening of more beds and the recruitment of additional personnel. For young people and their families, the key issue is access to public services on a daily basis, from academic support to healthcare. However, this demonstration alone cannot fully convey the extent of these difficulties in the region.
A peaceful demonstration in Besançon, tensions in Belfort
The demonstration in Besançon was peaceful, according to the report. In Belfort, the prefecture reported projectiles being thrown at police and property damage. France 3 reports that 13 people were arrested and 12 were taken into custody. These reports do not imply guilt on the part of the individuals involved.
Source: France 3 Regions – Youth
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