Several thousand university and high school students demonstrated in cities around France against a government reform of higher education that they say will lead to the privatisation of top universities. The student protest is just one of several major challenges facing President Nicolas Sarkozy's reform programme, underscoring the difficulties his government faces as it tries to shake up the hidebound economy. were totally or partially blocked by demonstrators the highest number since the student protest kicked off at the start of the month. A dozen high schools in Paris were also shut, Unef said. The student movement is looking to build momentum in its fight against a law approved in July which gives universities a greater degree of autonomy over their resources and opens the way for more private sector financing. The government has dismissed the movement as politically motivated, and Sarkozy refused this week to go back on the law, which was watered down because of student complaints.

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