Thousands of researchers and lecturers took to the streets of French cities on Thursday to protest at low education budgets and “dead universities” that are “literally in ruins”, reports FRANCE 24.
Protesting under the banner “Sciences en Marche” (Sciences on the march), the researchers and academics, accompanied by students and trade unions, said that France’s scientific higher education system was suffering a “profound crisis”.
“We need to cast a light on the catastrophic state of Higher Education and Research (ESR) in France,” the group said in its latest communiqué calling for nationwide protests.
In particular, they are alarmed by an amendment to the budget for 2015, approved by the National Assembly in November, which would see spending on research and higher education slashed by €136 million, including €70 destined to French universities.
They also want the tax breaks currently given to companies hiring science graduates to be extended to universities recruiting researchers.
The pressure appeared to be paying off on Thursday as French daily Le Monde reported that President François Hollande was poised to restore the €70 million in credits for the country’s universities.