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More than 400 schools in France are being closed as high school students’ protests over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating facilities and heavy academic pressure spread nationwide.
The protests, which began in the Paris region, spread to cities across the country. On Thursday, hundreds of students staged demonstrations and blockades outside high schools, with incidents of violence reported in several places.
French Education Minister Edouard Geffray said more than 400 schools and other educational establishments would remain closed on Friday as a precaution. Some schools have also moved classes online to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Students have complained about teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, ageing infrastructure, inadequate toilets and difficult conditions inside classrooms during hot weather. The protests have also highlighted concerns over long school hours and the pressure of the education system.
Violent incidents were reported in several cities. In Saint-Denis, north of Paris, students clashed with police. In Marseille, teachers were inadvertently splashed with petrol during an incident at a high school, while firefighters were attacked at another school and their vehicle was set on fire. A school in Nantes was also set ablaze, while unrest disrupted tram services in Strasbourg.
The protests have also spread to universities, with student groups reporting blockades at around 30 campuses in cities including Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon and Nantes.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting on Thursday and asked ministers to focus on the unrest. Education Minister Geffray said he would meet representatives of students, teachers and parents to discuss their concerns.
Political tensions have also emerged over the protests. Government sources said intelligence agencies had raised allegations of involvement by hard-left political groups, including members of La France Insoumise. The party has denied the allegations.
Police have made hundreds of arrests amid clashes and other incidents, while students, teachers, police officers and others have been injured. France’s police inspectorate, IGPN, has begun investigating several cases involving injuries to students allegedly caused by police crowd-control weapons.
The government has said it will seek to address students’ concerns through dialogue while making the safety of schools and students a priority.