France promises to replace its university admissions after riots and thousands of arrests
The government also promised more detailed admissions criteria, 15,000 new higher-education places and higher student grants as it tries to calm unrest.
- On Monday, the French government pledged to replace its national online university admissions platform, Parcoursup, by 2028, seeking to quell student anger after weeks of mass protests over education and living costs.
- Recent nationwide demonstrations saw turnout estimates ranging from more than 400,000 to nearly 800,000 as students criticized the platform for unclear selection criteria, unequal opportunities, and barriers to preferred courses.
- Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste announced "substantial change" for 2027 during a news conference, shortly after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with student representatives Monday to discuss their grievances.
- Though two student groups welcomed some concessions, they called for protests to continue; the government had deployed 3,000 additional substitute teachers to struggling high schools on October 8.
- These measures follow France's worst unrest in years on October 17, when demonstrations over school funding descended into rioting and looting, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to call for addressing legitimate demands.
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186 Articles
In France, the government goes to the protesting students with a catalogue of measures. They welcome the five-point plan of the Minister of Education, but want to demonstrate again next Saturday. By Julia Borutta.
French student and school organizations have called for continued mass protests despite the government’s announced measures to respond to the education crisis. A new day of national mobilization is scheduled for November 5, and individual organizations are planning actions on October 31. The decision was announced after a meeting with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu in Matignon. Representatives of the Union étudiante, student organizations and …
French Government Moves to Overhaul Parcoursup Admissions Portal as High School Student Protests Rage
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. High school student representatives meeting with government officials have acknowledged receiving "concrete announcements" while simultaneously calling for "continued mobilisation", as the French administration moves to overhaul the deeply criticised Parcoursup higher education admissions platform. World News | French Government Moves to Overhaul Parcoursup Admissions Portal as High School St…
French student leaders announced that the government today, in response to weeks of street protests, offered several proposals to improve conditions in the field of education, but they said they would continue with the protests, because the measures offered did not meet their demands.
The measures announced by the government on Monday, 26 October, such as the replacement of Parcoursup by 2028, have not fully convinced the high school organizations. Therefore, they have called for further mobilization in the coming weeks.
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