France Closes Hundreds of Schools Amid Escalating Student Protests

France is set to close between 400 and 500 high schools on Monday due to ongoing student protests marked by violence, according to Education Minister Edouard Geffray. The disruptions come as demonstrations over poor school conditions, overcrowding, and teacher shortages have escalated, leading to property damage and attacks on staff.

At least 24 schools have been burned or ransacked since the protests began last month, Geffray stated. Thousands of young people have participated in the unrest, resulting in over 5,000 arrests, with 85 percent of those arrested being minors. The protests initially erupted in the Paris region in mid-September and have since spread nationwide, impacting both urban centers and smaller towns.

Students are voicing grievances about alleged inequalities within the education system, citing disparities in teaching quality, facilities, and opportunities, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Complaints include classrooms lacking air conditioning during heatwaves, insufficient heating in winter, and dilapidated conditions with issues like rat infestations and collapsed ceilings. Protesters have held signs reading, "Too many inequalities, we're disgusted" and "Education is a right, not a privilege."

Beyond the physical conditions, students also cite long school hours, among the highest in Europe. The movement has seen clashes between students and police, with reports of tear gas and batons used to disperse crowds. Some facial injuries among young protesters have been attributed to police riot-control projectiles.

Education Minister Geffray described the situation as a risk to both staff and students, noting that 78 education staff members have been wounded, an unprecedented number, and were allegedly targeted specifically for their roles in the education system. He also claimed that activists, particularly from the far-left, have infiltrated the student movement and instigated extreme violence.

The protests have put pressure on President Emmanuel Macron's government. The influential CGT labor union has called for a wider demonstration on Tuesday, further testing the government's response. One widely circulated video showed a 15-year-old rioter using a makeshift flamethrower to injure a woman.

Despite the unrest, the government's proposed state budget for 2027 allocates significant funding to education, earmarking €65.5 billion, which is more than the €63.4 billion planned for defense. Education Minister Geffray indicated that while Monday's closures would be comparable to Friday's, a "partial, progressive return to lessons" is anticipated.