Ministry moves 24 schools to remote learning amid student protests
The Ministry of National Education responded by moving 24 schools across Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Menton, and Grasse to remote learning.
The protests stem from student demands for increased educational resources, specifically more teachers, guidance counselors, and school nurses. Friday’s actions unfolded amid a heightened police presence designed to prevent crowd gatherings outside volatile campuses, following clashes on Thursday at institutions such as the Jacques-Dole and Campus Vert d’Azur high schools in Antibes.
Calm Returns to Antibes Amid Bag Searches and Police Presence
Outside the Antibes facilities that experienced violent outbursts on Thursday, the immediate vicinity remained quiet on Friday morning. Police officers mobilized to monitor potential crowd formations while remaining the primary figures visible on the streets.
Inside the institutions keeping their doors open, incoming students faced mandatory bag searches. Elsewhere in the department, classroom seats remained largely unoccupied as administrative decisions kept facilities shuttered or operating under distance learning frameworks to maintain campus security.
Parents waiting outside the schools expressed mixed emotions regarding the heavy security posture. One mother outside the Campus Vert d’Azur shared her perspective with ICI Côte d’Azur, stating, “We are reassured by the police presence, but also anxious. My daughter, she didn’t want to come this morning.” Another parent noted that while student grievances regarding resource shortages are legitimate, the methods employed during the blockades remain concerning.
Property Damage and Arrest Figures Across the Department
While the overall atmosphere on Friday remained relatively controlled, the prefecture reported 29 total arrests on Friday. The prefectural services confirmed in a formal statement that no injuries had been reported among either security forces or demonstrators.
Localized disruptions occurred outside the René-Goscinny high school in Drap, where approximately one hundred youths gathered. The group initially blocked a roadway located a kilometer away from the campus before marching directly in front of the school gates without causing major breaches.
Incidents of property damage were concentrated in specific coastal municipalities. Alexandra Masson, the RN mayor of Menton, informed BFMTV Côte d’Azur that students had ignited a fire at the Pierre-et-Marie-Curie high school, which has since been extinguished. Additional incidents involved burning garbage bins and localized vegetation fires.
Upcoming Closures and Broadened Mobilizations Planned for Next Week
Administrative measures are expanding in response to the ongoing unrest. The prefecture announced that starting Monday, four additional secondary and high schools will transition entirely to distance learning: the Goscinny school in Drap, the CIV in Valbonne, and the Jules-Ferry and Les Côteaux schools in Cannes.
The movement shows signs of institutional expansion beyond high school students. A broader day of action involving university students and teaching faculty has been officially announced for Tuesday, October 6.