French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has warned that any escalation in the current wave of student protests would be "irresponsible" following the arrests of 164 people on Monday.
The demonstrations began in Paris and have seen teenagers blockading schools for days, citing overcrowded classes and teacher shortages as key grievances.
Lecornu noted reports of fireworks, fires and violence near high schools, stating that no one justifies endangering students, staff or police officers.
A French union representing high‑school students described the protests as a legitimate response to the conditions faced by pupils under the national education system.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that 12 members of the security forces, 12 students and three staff members were injured on Monday, with 180 schools affected, but did not detail those who had been arrested.
Incidents have included vandalism, fireworks aimed at police and armed confrontations that have spread beyond the Île‑de‑France region to places such as Marseille, Lille and Sedan.
The Union Syndicale Lycéenne said the high‑school conditions—teacher shortages, dilapidated schools, overcrowded schedules and the stress of Parcoursup—are a result of a decade of policies and lack of resources.
Upholding the protests, the union called for further blockades to defend students’ rights against austerity measures.
On the same day, teachers, hospital workers and civil servants unionized to hold a walkout over low wages and working conditions.
In response, Lecornu said the difficulties faced by high schools must be heard and addressed, but violence must be condemned unequivocally and its perpetrators held accountable.
He also accused the far‑left France Unbowed party of encouraging students to expand the movement.
Jean‑Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed blamed the government for ordering the crackdown, describing the students as harmless participants.
Nuñez described the demonstrations as resembling urban violence more than typical protest movements, highlighting masked participants armed with fireworks and projectiles.
Police investigations have been launched following reports that an officer fired a round from a grenade launcher at a student, injuring the teenager.
