Protests by French high school students over poor facilities and teacher shortages have led to nearly 500 arrests and injuries. The protests, which started in late September, saw students blocking entrances to hundreds of high schools for 15- to 17-year-olds. Parents, teachers, and union workers joined the movement in Paris and other cities, with the interior ministry reporting 256,000 people protested nationwide.
The protests turned violent on Tuesday, with police firing tear gas and some demonstrators throwing rocks at officers. At least 488 people were arrested, and 43 members of the security forces were wounded, according to the interior ministry. A teenager lost a hand on Monday after police fired a stun grenade, and a 14-year-old student was hit in the face with a tear gas grenade, losing several teeth.
President Emmanuel Macron summoned top officials, including Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and Education Minister Edouard Geffray, to discuss the unrest. The government has sought to address the students' grievances, while accusing the hard-left France Unbowed party of encouraging the movement. Veteran LFI presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon has strongly supported the protests, while calling for non-violent methods.
The government reports 215 students and 715 police officers have been injured since the start of the movement. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu condemned violence linked to the protests, telling lawmakers that burning down a high school does not improve the state of high school buildings. He also announced that high schools across the country would be closed for a half-day between Wednesday and Friday.
Students and protesters have accused authorities of using disproportionate force. Rights groups, unions, and students have called for an end to the police repression. Amnesty International said the French authorities should put an end to the disproportionate police repression seen in recent days during student protests. Nunez said police had opened 10 internal investigations into allegations of misconduct.
The protests have spread to neighbouring countries, with students in Belgium starting a similar protest movement in the city of Liege. Several students were arrested in Liege after clashes and vandalism on the sidelines of a demonstration. The unrest comes ahead of a 2027 election to choose Macron's successor, with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen riding high in the polls.
Since the start of the movement, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked, according to the education ministry. More than 6,500 people, mostly minors, have been arrested. The prime minister's office said 85 teaching staff have also been injured. US President Donald Trump weighed in on Tuesday, blaming the unrest in France on "mass migration" and Islam.
Key points
- Nearly 500 people were arrested during the protests.
- The protests were sparked by complaints of dilapidated facilities and teacher shortages.
- The government has reported 215 students and 715 police officers injured since the start of the movement.
