High schools across France have closed, thousands of teenagers have been arrested, and hundreds of people have suffered injuries as unrests over conditions in the lycée system has spread and erupted into violence in recent days.
Up to 500 schools across France are still partially or totally closed after clashes between riot police and student protesters in recent days, French education minister said on Sunday.
Lessons will be “totally or partly suspended” in some “400 to 500” high schools as security conditions “have not been fulfilled”, underlined Mr. Edouard Geffray.
He also said 24 schools had been “burned or ransacked” since the start of the protests. Thousands of students have been demonstrating over education standards and the protests, which started last week, have spread from Paris to other cities, including Montpellier, Nantes and Marseille.
High school pupils and others have been protesting against lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and run-down buildings.
On Friday, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 735 of France’s 3,700 schools had been affected “one way or another” by violent protests.
Roughly 3,000 people have been arrested since the protests began nearly two weeks ago outside of Paris, with nearly 2,000 being detained on Thursday alone, the French interior ministry said.
As demonstrations have at times escalated into violent clashes, 170 students and 65 school staff members have been injured, according to French authorities. Nearly 400 police officers have also reportedly suffered injuries and the protests show no signs of abating.
Press reports say that over 500 French schools remained closed on Friday as students set fires, blockaded schools, and clashed with riot police around the country.
A survey conducted by the French education ministry found that during the 2024-2025 school year, nearly 10% of teaching hours went untaught in public secondary schools. About 7.5% of those lost hours were due to a failure to find substitutes.
