Moroccan Students in France Protest Delays in Residence Permit Processing

"The situation is dramatic. Many students do not receive their residence permit on time. Without this permit, they are not entitled to social assistance, are unable to obtain a job contract, to benefit from an internship or an apprenticeship sometimes essential to the validation of a master’s degree for example," denounced Manon Denizot, the president of the CSTE, during the rally.

The student union of the Upper Rhine has also alerted to the precarious situation of students in France: "We know that 20% of French students experience financial difficulties such that they cannot meet their needs. The figure rises to more than 40% for internationals. Similarly, 33% of French students give up on care for lack of means, it’s 56% among internationals".

Manon Denizot also mentioned the lack of resources of public services which find themselves unable to play their role. "We have filed an appeal with the administrative court for a foreign student deprived of a permit, and we have won the case," affirmed the young union.

According to Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, some 70 people, members of the League of Human Rights, the Communist Party and France Insoumise, took part in the Saturday rally.