The France high school protests intensified on Friday as students set fires outside schools and clashed with police. The movement has spread across the country and forced the closure of nearly 400 educational establishments.
The protests began in the Paris region last week before expanding nationwide. Students at lycees have blocked entrances and confronted police, while demanding changes to school conditions and resources.
Students say school hours are too long and classrooms can become excessively hot. They have also raised concerns about inadequate facilities and frequent staff shortages. The government has acknowledged their grievances but condemned incidents it described as urban violence.
Authorities said the unrest has resulted in injuries and damage at several schools. Education Minister Edouard Geffray said nearly 400 of the country’s 3,700 high schools were expected to remain closed on Friday. Some schools, particularly in Marseille, planned to hold classes remotely.
At least 65 staff members, including 40 high school principals, have reportedly been injured since the protests began. Geffray said around 170 students had also been wounded, while more than 100 schools had suffered serious damage. Authorities said about 2,000 people had been taken into police custody, most of them minors.
In several cities, masked protesters reportedly threw Molotov cocktails, burned rubbish bins and confronted police. Fires damaged entrances at two high schools in Paris. Police also used tear gas at a school in Brest, while students in other cities accused officers of excessive force.
The France high school protests have also entered the political debate ahead of next year’s presidential election. The government has accused the left-wing France Unbowed party of supporting the movement, while party officials rejected the allegation. Education Minister Geffray said he would meet education unions and student associations to seek dialogue.
