Up to 500 schools close in France over student protests
France’s education minister said up to 500 schools could be partly or fully closed on Monday, following recent confrontations between student protesters and riot police.
The protests reflect complaints about too few teachers, crowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings. The minister said 24 schools had been damaged by fire or looting since the demonstrations began.
The minister warned that the scale of disruption could resemble Friday’s, while saying lessons would resume gradually. He cited risks to students and staff and reported that 78 education workers had been injured.
More than 5,000 people have been arrested since the movement began, AFP reported; about 85% were minors. Protest organisers have urged demonstrators to return on Tuesday, saying the government has not offered concrete steps.
Their demands include keeping classes running, upgrading school facilities, improving the organisation of school days and making university admissions more transparent. It remains unclear how many schools will actually be affected on Monday.
Key points
- Up to 500 schools could be partly or fully closed on Monday.
- The protests focus on staffing shortages, crowded classrooms and poor school conditions.
- Organisers have called for more demonstrations on Tuesday and specific education reforms.