Students Strike in France

French students striking against new university regulations in France have esculated to its 15th week. Around 25% of students and staff in state-run universities have been staging the protests, which could have a serious impact on the forthcoming exams due to lack of teaching.

The dispute originally started after plans were established to change the control held by university presidents - but since France's president, Nicholas Sarkozy, was elected in 2007, the plans have spiraled to a complete overhaul of the higher education system in France. His vision is to allow universities independent power and governance, much like commerical businesses, and to make them more competitive. But students and staff alike are strongly apposed to this "right-wing ideology".

Universities in France run significantly different to British ones. France has 83 state-run universities, all of which have no extorionate tuition fees. Across the channel, British Universities are all private and charge £3,145 per year to study at all universities full time. The only time French students pay so much is if they decide to study privately for a more prestigious education. This means that students from the poorest communities in France have a chance at higher education without the worries of money.

Xavier Darcos, France's Minister of Education, has said that a handful of students have succeeded in distrupting some universities and those students will not be awarded their degrees.