France is preparing for another round of student protests, with around 400 to 500 high schools scheduled to close entirely or partially on Monday ahead of nationwide rallies on Tuesday. As the demonstrations grew across the country, the administration cited security concerns, and over 5,000 people have been arrested since the campaign began.
Edouard Geffray, the Education Minister, stated that certain schools would suspend classes due to unsafe conditions for pupils and staff. He described the closures as a precaution before the next round of demonstrations and revealed that 24 schools had been burnt or ransacked since the protests began.
Monday’s closures are expected to be similar to those on Friday. Geffray stated that schools will progressively resume classes when conditions permitted, with a partial and progressive resumption to normal instruction.
More than one-third of the 468 schools in Paris’s Ile-de-France region are anticipated to be shuttered on Monday. In an interview with Franceinfo, regional president Valerie Pecresse acknowledged the expected disruption.
France Student Protests Grow as Schools Face Security Concerns
The student protest began on September 17 at a school in Paris and spread throughout France last week. Demonstrations have now become violent in several regions, resulting in fights between students and security forces. Several clashes have involved the use of tear gas and batons by police.
Students in French high schools, known as lycees, have expressed worry over teacher shortages, long school days, and poorly maintained school structures. They claim that these issues are harming the quality of their education and future chances.
On Sunday, students spoke out in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, about their experiences and disappointments. Some students revealed injuries experienced during encounters with police, including one who reportedly lost his teeth after being hit by a rubber bullet and another who had an eye injury.
A 16-year-old student named Campion also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s reaction. Holding a poster denouncing the deployment of tear gas, he questioned why authorities used such force against students demanding educational improvements.
Meanwhile, Geffray accused far-left elements of entering the movement and inciting violence during demonstrations. He said that 78 education staff workers had been hurt, with some being purposefully targeted because they worked in the national education system.
France Student Protests Continue as Government Announces Measures
Despite the increasing disruption, protest organisers have planned for additional demonstrations on Tuesday. They say that the government has yet to implement concrete measures to meet the students’ requests.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu detailed a response, requesting that local authorities prioritise replacing missing teachers and filling vacant positions. He also plans to meet with regional presidents on Tuesday to discuss renovations to the country’s decaying school structures.
The protests have also resulted in an increased number of arrests. More than 5,000 people have been jailed since the movement began, with juveniles making up 85 percent of those arrested.
On Sunday, police in the southern town of La Ciotat apprehended a 16-year-old for attacking a teacher during a student demonstration. The 59-year-old instructor was allegedly attacked and splashed with petrol on Friday.
Another violent incident in Belfort, eastern France, elicited furious reactions after video showed youngsters beating and kicking a police officer on the ground. Two Bulgarian nationals, ages 15 and 17, were arrested and are being investigated for severe violence. One of them has also filed an attempted murder case with his lawyer.
Amnesty International’s France section has condemned what it calls disproportionate police aggression, urging students to be free to demonstrate without fear of excessive force or arbitrary arrest. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez denied that police were targeting young people, stating that security forces were safeguarding individuals who wanted to voice their demands peacefully.
With hundreds of schools set to close and more demonstrations scheduled, France is dealing with mounting student pressure while officials work to restore safety and address concerns about the education system.
