French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to reform the national platform for university admissions.
The announcement followed Macron’s first meeting with representatives of sixth-form pupils and students, who have been protesting for several weeks, Bloomberg reports.
Scrapping or replacing the Parcoursup computerised admissions system is one of the protesters’ main demands. In addition, they are calling for more resources for teachers and better conditions in educational institutions.
According to AFP, after the three-hour meeting student representatives described the president as attentive to their demands and said he had promised not only to change Parcoursup but also to reform school democracy.
Despite this, demonstrators plan to continue their actions and keep up pressure on the authorities. Student representatives are now scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
- Protests in France have escalated into the most violent unrest in recent years, with looting, arson and clashes with police.
- On 23 October it emerged that the French authorities will deploy around 70,000 law enforcement officers, armoured vehicles, water cannon and helicopters to maintain order during protests planned for Saturday.
- Police have so far authorised protesters to hold mass rallies in eastern Paris.