Rats in the toilets, leaking roofs, broken heating systems: Cellphone videos filmed by French schoolchildren and circulating on social media bear witness to the dilapidated infrastructure in many educational institutions across France. At the Lycee Paul Eluard in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, a center of the current protests, young people have reported that there are vermin in the building, and say burst pipes are a regular occurrence. In nearby Pantin, pupils complained that windows couldn't be opened, even when temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer.
Pupils also complain of overcrowded classrooms and frequently cancelled lessons. The protests, which have erupted all over the country, show no sign of coming to an end. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Yet, by EU standards, France invests a substantial amount in its education system — 6.7% of its GDP.
The fact that this investment has not translated into a better learning environment may be partly attributable to the way responsibilities are divided. The central government in Paris mainly deals with paying teachers, and setting national curricula. But the responsibility for maintaining school buildings lies with France's various levels of local government.
For elementary schools, the administration responsible is the municipality; for "colleges" (lower secondary schools, ages 11–15) it is the wider department, and for lycees (upper secondary schools, ages 15–18) it is the region. Depending on the region, the local authorities have different financial possibilities at their disposal, and must plan renovation projects themselves. Progress on making improvements is often very slow as a result.
In addition, more than two-thirds of their budget is already allocated to staffing costs and pension payments, leaving relatively little room for investment. Over 80% of elementary school buildings in France are more than 50 years old. An estimated 10 to 20% of all school buildings are considered to be in serious need of renovation.
In many instances, politicians have been trying to address the problem. Ile-de-France, which covers Paris and the region surrounding it, approved a 10-year program of renovation and expansion for the period 2017 to 2027 at a cost of €6.6 billion ($7.4 billion). According to the local authorities, two-thirds of upper secondary pupils now attend a new school, or one that has been renovated.
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