On Monday, up to 500 schools across France will close or suspend lessons after clashes between riot police and student demonstrators. The education minister, Édouard Geffray, said security conditions had not been met, prompting the shutdown of 400 to 500 high schools.
Since the protests began, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked. Hundreds of students have marched from Paris to Montpellier, Nantes and Marseille, demanding more teachers, less crowded classrooms and better facilities.
Violent clashes have led to 1,747 arrests on Friday and a total of more than 5,000 since the movement started—about 85% of them minors. Police say 78 education staff members were wounded, a figure Geffray called unprecedented.
The education minister accused far‑left activists of infiltrating the protest movement and provoking extreme violence, framing it as a risk to students and teachers.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has pledged measures to address students’ concerns, including keeping classes open, improving school facilities, streamlining school schedules and making university admissions more transparent. He also accelerated a review of the ‘vandal‑pays’ bill so those responsible for damage will pay for it.
Organisers of the protests argue the government still lacks concrete steps and plan to continue demonstrations next week, while the state stresses the need for safe learning environments and responsible civil conduct.
