French high school students' protests have led to authorities planning to close or limit access to up to 500 schools on Monday due to security concerns. Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that classes could be fully or partly suspended at between 400 and 500 high schools where authorities consider security conditions insufficient. This number is close to the number of schools affected on Friday. Geffray mentioned that schools would gradually resume classes where conditions permit, with authorities seeking a “partial, progressive return to lessons.”
The protests began at a Paris high school on September 17 and have since expanded to other parts of the country. Students have raised concerns over teacher shortages, lengthy school days, deteriorating facilities, and broader failures that affect their education. Authorities have reported serious damage at some schools, with Geffray stating that 24 high schools have been burned or ransacked since the movement began. The protests have also led to clashes between students and police, prompting security forces to use tear gas and batons in several cities.
The violence has raised significant security concerns, with Geffray accusing far-left activists of entering the student movement and fueling violence that has placed students and education staff at risk. According to the minister, 78 education workers have suffered injuries since the protests began, describing the figure as unprecedented. He also alleged that some staff members were targeted because of their work within France’s education system. The scale of the arrests has also fueled criticism of police tactics, with opponents accusing security forces of excessive force during confrontations with young protesters.
More than 5,000 people have been arrested since the start of the protests, according to authorities. About 85% of those arrested are minors. The arrests have sparked criticism, with many questioning the police response to the protests. A 16-year-old was detained on Sunday over an assault on a 59-year-old teacher in the southern town of La Ciotat during a protest on Friday. The teacher was reportedly doused with gasoline and struck during the incident, highlighting the severity of the violence.
Student groups have called for further protests on Tuesday, saying the government has yet to offer “concrete measures” to address their demands. The planned demonstrations come as authorities face growing pressure to respond to students’ concerns while containing the violence that has accompanied parts of the movement. Geffray has stated that authorities are working to address the students' concerns, but a clear resolution to the crisis remains elusive.
The protests have had a significant impact on the education system in France, with many schools forced to close or limit access due to security concerns. The government has faced criticism for its handling of the protests, with many accusing authorities of using excessive force against young protesters. As the protests continue, authorities face the challenge of balancing the need to maintain order with the need to address the students' concerns.
The situation remains volatile, with further protests planned and no clear resolution in sight. The French government will need to navigate the complex issues driving the protests, including teacher shortages, facilities, and broader education failures, to find a solution that addresses the students' concerns and restores order to the education system.
Key points
- Up to 500 French high schools may be closed or limit access due to student protests and security concerns.
- The protests have led to over 5,000 arrests, with 85% of those arrested being minors.
- Student groups are planning further protests on Tuesday, citing a lack of concrete measures from the government to address their demands.
