French Ministry of education

The initiative creates a significant test of public consultation, whether giving young people a formal voice in policymaking can produce meaningful improvements to the conditions driving their protests.

For further information, see French Ministry of National Education, Associated Press, and Le Monde.

Italy reaches final parliamentary vote on major electoral reform

Italy's Chamber of Deputies has scheduled a final vote on legislation that would change how the country elects its next parliament.

[swoosh] At least 400 of France's 3,700 high schools were closed on Friday.

The Ministry of National Education said another 560 reported protests or disruption.

The protests began at lycées in the Paris area last week, and they have spread nationwide.

On Friday, students blockaded schools, lit fires in the street, and faced police lines.

This is at the time when they were reporting all of this.

Obviously, you have here the Secretary for Education talking about the fact that, well, we're willing to listen to high school students examining their demands, providing responses.

That's the purpose of the dialogue we're initiating.

I've asked principals to convene starting this week, wherever necessary, the high school life councils and rectors to convene within 48 hours, the academic high school life councils.