Students meet with local officials

Twelve high school students from Saint-Étienne and Saint-Priest-en-Jarez met with the prefect of Loire, François-Xavier Bieuville, and the academic director, Thierry Dickelé, on Monday, October 12. The meeting was part of the fifth act of a student mobilization campaign addressing various concerns.

Issues raised by students

The students discussed several topics, including the Parcoursup platform, which is used for post-bac orientation, the Pass Culture, a cultural voucher program, the lack of resources in high schools, and the relationship between youth and law enforcement.

Officials praise the meeting

The prefect described the dialogue as "open and constructive" and shared his positive view of the meeting on the social network X. However, the students were not fully satisfied with the outcome of the discussion.

Students criticize the response

One student, Matthieu, told the newspaper Le Progrès that the prefect denied the existence of police violence, despite the students' concerns. Matthieu said the prefect did not acknowledge the students' call for more dialogue with law enforcement.

Mixed reactions to the meeting

Leïla Bella Benchaid, another high school student, said the meeting "started poorly and ended fairly well," according to reports. The students also pointed out a "flagrant" lack of resources in high schools in the department.

Continued protests and blockades

Despite the prefect’s assurances that the state is "listening to youth" and aims to "favor a serene school climate" and "maintain a permanent dialogue," many high schools remained blocked on Tuesday, October 13. The protest movement has also spread to universities and post-bac schools, with the École d'ingénieur des Mines de Saint-Étienne being blocked for the first time since 1968.