Hundreds of schools across France were closed or disrupted on Friday as a growing student protest movement spread nationwide, with demonstrations escalating into clashes with police and incidents of arson.
The French Ministry of National Education said at least 400 of the country’s 3,700 high schools were closed, while 560 reported protests or disruptions. The demonstrations began at schools around Paris last week before spreading to other parts of the country.
Students protested against overcrowded classrooms, shortages of teachers and inadequate school facilities. In several cities, masked students blockaded school entrances, lit fires and confronted police.
In the Paris suburbs, a 15-year-old student told Reuters that some classes had as many as 35 students and that schools did not have enough chairs. Police used tear gas during demonstrations in the area.
Fires also damaged the entrances of two high schools in Paris — Léonard de Vinci and Gaston-Bachelard prompting firefighters to intervene.
Students carried placards calling for better conditions, including messages saying: “We have a future to build, not to endure.”
The protests have coincided with a wider public-sector strike over the government’s budget plans, increasing pressure on President Emmanuel Macron ahead of elections next year.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray said at least 170 students and 65 school staff members had been injured, including 40 school principals. He also said more than 100 high schools had suffered severe damage.
“What matters now is ensuring our children are no longer out on the streets, because they are in danger,” Geffray told BFMTV.
The response by police has also become a major point of contention. Amnesty International said images of high school students being confronted by law enforcement were alarming and stressed that many of those involved were minors.
Students have likewise accused police of using excessive force. A 16-year-old protester in Rennes told AFP that police violence was contributing to anger among demonstrators.
The government has accused the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party of attempting to take control of the student movement. LFI senior official Manuel Bompard rejected the accusation, describing it as a “conspiracy theory.”
As disruptions continue, Geffray said he would meet education unions and student associations to seek dialogue and address the grievances behind the protests.
The demonstrations now present the government with two challenges: restoring normal operations in schools while responding to concerns over staffing and classroom conditions that have brought thousands of students onto the streets.
