French government unveils five school reform initiatives as police disciplinary probe launched in Dunkirk

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu used a short speech from Matignon to outline five new initiatives for secondary schools: covering substitute-teacher coverage, material conditions, organization of the school day, greater openness of the Parcoursup admissions platform, and a revamped framework for student expression, with the first decisions expected by the end of October. He reaffirmed support for police forces and said dialogue with students would continue in schools from Thursday onward.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez disclosed that a disciplinary probe has been opened after a police 4×4 was filmed maneuvering at high speed amid a teenage protest in Dunkirk, an action he said did not align with official police doctrines, though no one was hurt. Nuñez emphasized that police are tasked with protecting people and property and must act proportionately in difficult contexts, and noted that the prefect and the inter-departmental police directorate have issued reminders and are reviewing the incident.