Teachers and school staff have been called to strike alongside pupils on Tuesday 6th October, threatening further disruption to Riviera schools after a week of protests marked by violence, arrests and threats against education staff. A demonstration is planned in Nice, while 28 lycées across the Alpes-Maritimes switched to remote teaching on Monday.
The national mobilisation could extend disruption beyond schools affected by blockades, with the SNES-FSU, SNEP-FSU and SNUEP-FSU unions calling for strike action in support of pupils’ demands for greater investment in public education. The extent of participation in individual Riviera establishments has not yet been confirmed.
In Nice, L’Union Étudiante has announced a gathering at Place Garibaldi at 2pm on Tuesday. The parents’ federation FCPE has also called on members to demonstrate alongside pupils.
Violence and threats during last week’s protests
The renewed mobilisation follows serious disturbances around several schools in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var.
According to prefecture figures reported by Les Petites Affiches, 29 people were arrested in the Alpes-Maritimes on Friday 2nd October, including following the throwing of fireworks and other projectiles, and damage to property. That followed 72 arrests on Thursday.
No injuries were reported on Friday, but the prefecture counted 14 national police officers and four municipal officers injured since the movement began.
Nice academy rector Emmanuel Roux condemned the violence while distinguishing it from pupils’ right to protest peacefully. He also reported threats against headteachers, teachers and other education staff, including death threats on social media. Those incidents have been referred to judicial authorities, with protection provided to affected staff.
Remote lessons could continue on Tuesday
The number of Alpes-Maritimes lycées placed in remote teaching rose from 24 on Friday to 28 on Monday. The additional establishments were Lycée Goscinny in Drap, the Centre International de Valbonne and Cannes’ Jules-Ferry and Les Côteaux lycées.
The arrangements could be extended into Tuesday depending on conditions. Restrictions on stationary gatherings around affected establishments will remain in force until 7pm on Tuesday, while three CRS police sections were brought in to reinforce local officers on Monday.
For families, disruption could therefore come from several directions: continued remote lessons, further blockades and staff absences linked to the strike call.
Calls for answers on school conditions
The protests centre on teaching shortages, timetables and school conditions. Following talks with pupil representatives on Friday, Roux identified four principal concerns: timetables, buildings, educational guidance and the need for more dialogue.
He said timetable issues would be examined with schools, building concerns addressed with Région Sud and pupil councils convened more regularly. A national consultation platform was scheduled to open on Monday 5th October.
The teaching unions, however, are calling for a national response backed by funding.
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