"We Must Not Stop, It Is All on the Line Now": In Aubervilliers, High School Students Determined to Continue Blockades "to Make Themselves Heard"

The measures proposed by the executive failed to convince the youths gathered outside the school on Monday. "We will stop mobilizing when the government stops simply trying to appease us with bogus measures," insisted one of the blockade's organizers.

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No banners, no trash bins. On this return to school on Monday, November 2, the mobilization continued in an understated manner outside Lycée Le Corbusier in Aubervilliers, Seine-Saint-Denis. Around a hundred students gathered outside the school in the morning—a scene that has become routine: blockades have succeeded one another here since September 29, and anger has not subsided.

High school mobilization: Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reiterates that he is ready to meet with student representatives "next week"

The reforms announced by the government on October 26 achieved nothing. "It is just talk," says one student. "They're just saying that to try to calm us down, but we are not kids; we understand what's happening." Like him, none of the students interviewed saw any hope of a way out of the crisis in these announcements. "We will stop mobilizing when the government stops simply trying to appease us with bogus measures," asserts Antoine, one of the blockade organizers and a member of the school's student union. Le Corbusier was one of 41 high schools blocked across France on Monday morning (out of approximately 3,700), according to the Ministry of National Education.

Doubts About the Parcoursup Reform

The students denounce the shortage of teachers, the unhealthiness of their facilities, and the perceived inequality between suburban high schools and those in major cities. Among the executive's pledges is the release of 4 billion euros in loans over four years to support local authorities' investments in school buildings. "That is less than half of what we requested, and it isn't even emergency funding. We will still have to wait for these funds to be released," Antoine criticizes.

The high schooler also voiced reservations regarding the announced changes to Parcoursup starting in 2027, ahead of the platform's replacement in 2028. "That's all well and good, but the presidential election will take place in the meantime, and the measure may not even be implemented," he anticipates. "They're just going to change the name, change the interface, and tweak a couple of minor details. We all know it will be the exact same thing," adds Ryan, a tenth-grade student.

Despite the blockade, the high school remained open Monday morning. In front of the gates, a police officer equipped with an LBD watched over the students. "It's mind-boggling," reacted Cibèle David, a history and geography teacher at a neighboring middle school who decided to join a group of supportive adults—an initiative launched by the parents' association to ensure the teenagers' safety. "We are here to ensure that the blockade goes smoothly and that there are no incidents with the police," she says. Since the start of the movement, law enforcement has already used tear gas near the school, and students have been detained.

Despite the presence of law enforcement, a few students tried to form a human chain to block access to the building. Arm in arm with her friends, Rahma is determined not to let anyone through: "Our goal is to ensure classes don't take place so that we are heard," she says. "We must not stop, we have to persevere. It is all on the line now."

"Those Who Enter the High School Are Not Showing Enough Solidarity"

A handful of students eager to attend classes nevertheless managed to get past the "picket line." That was not the case for Orlane, who turned back dragging her feet. "They wouldn't let me pass; after a while, I've had enough," she sighs, stating that she has not had classes for five weeks. "I supported the mobilizations before the break. It is true that there are causes worth fighting for. But now school is back in session, and it's time to move forward," the teenager confides. It is an opinion far from shared by all: "Those who enter the high school are not showing enough solidarity," laments Medina. In her view, academic delays are piling up, but for a worthy cause.

These high school students explain why they are still blocking their school after the holidays

Conscious of the backlog accumulated since the beginning of the student movement, the teaching staff is set to meet in a committee on Tuesday to find solutions so as not to penalize the students, according to teachers present at the blockade. Around fifteen of them were on strike Monday in solidarity. Megaphone in hand, a female teacher addresses the youth: "I am very proud of everything you have accomplished since late September," she calls out to applause.

During a general assembly held on the school's front steps, students voted by a show of hands to continue the blockade. "Tomorrow, we are going to innovate a bit: we are going to do a blockade-barbecue," announced Antoine, encouraging his classmates to bring food. The students also plan to mobilize on Thursday during the nationwide strike called by trade union organizations.

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