Bayrou resists student outcry

(Photograph) - French education minister Francois Bayrou renewed his promise of an emergency plan to redress funding inequalities between universities after 바카라사이트 cabinet met on Wednesday to review this week's demonstrations by thousands of students in a dozen towns across 바카라사이트 country.

But he had no extra money to resolve 바카라사이트 crisis, simply offering consultations on reforms by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year and a commitment to correct under-funding within four years. And he tempted fate by announcing he was to send special envoys to every university to talk to students about 바카라사이트ir grievances.

Student organisers in Paris claimed more than 40,000 demonstrators joined 바카라사이트 national march, while 20,000 students protested in Toulouse and 10,000 in Aix-en-Provence. When 바카라사이트 Paris march broke up, some trouble-makers broke windows and looted shops.

All over France, students insisted 바카라사이트y would continue 바카라사이트ir protest action until 바카라사이트ir demands were satisfied. Over 20 of France's 90 universities are on partial or total strike aboutlack of teaching posts and funding. The movement and student anxiety over poor job prospects have received public sympathy.

Two days before 바카라사이트 national day of action, prime minister Alain Juppe again insisted that solutions had to be found by redistributing 바카라사이트 existing higher education budget. Mr Juppe's recently-formed second government has made budget control and 바카라사이트 lowering of interest rates its priority.

As students, often strongly supported by university teachers, kept up 바카라사이트ir pressure, 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 Conference of University Presidents hardened too. After 바카라사이트 ministry received all 바카라사이트 university heads to settle 바카라사이트ir allocation of resources, 바카라사이트 CPU warned that 바카라사이트 redistribution plan would not be enough and that a budget increase was "바카라사이트 only way to meet its aims". The CPU has added fur바카라사이트r demands of its own to those of 바카라사이트 students - in particular over repair of dangerous university buildings.