French teachers' payslips reveal billions meant for schools are funding retired civil servants' pensions as student protests grow

The money trail was hidden in an obscure pensions transfer printed on teachers' own pay slips, and it has been described as 'a bombshell'. Billions earmarked for education are propping up retired civil servants instead. High-school pupils across France are already protesting over crumbling conditions. Saturday is expected to mark a new height for the youth-led movement.

Protesters say 'rural deserts' of underfunded services have been left to rot.

The scale of the protests is forcing every presidential candidate to address underfunded services.

Underfunded public services are the ground where hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon is strongest.