France to Close Hundreds of Schools Amid Ongoing Student Protests

Up to 500 schools in France will be partially or fully closed on Monday due to unrest stemming from student protests, according to the French Minister of Education, Édouard Geffray. These closures are a response to recent violent clashes involving riot police and protesting students.

Geffray revealed that lessons would be "totally or partly suspended" in a number of high schools, estimating between "400 to 500" of them would be impacted, as security conditions have not been met. He noted that 24 schools have experienced destruction through burning or vandalism since the protests began.

The demonstrations, which began last week, have spread beyond Paris to cities such as Montpellier, Nantes, and Marseille. Students have voiced concerns regarding poor education standards, citing issues like insufficient numbers of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and dilapidated facilities.

On Friday, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that 735 of the country's 3,700 schools had been affected by the protests in some capacity. Geffray warned that the number of closures on Monday could mirror the figures from Friday but assured a "partial, progressive return to lessons" would be planned.

In his comments, Geffray claimed, "There are activists—particularly from the far-left—who have infiltrated the high school student movement, hijacked it from the students themselves, and engaged in extreme violence." This, he warned, poses a risk to both students and teaching staff. Geffray reported that 78 educational staff members have sustained injuries during the protests.

On Friday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that 1,747 individuals were arrested in relation to the unrest.

Protest organisers have called for demonstrations to continue on Tuesday, criticizing the government for a perceived lack of "concrete measures" to address their issues, according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP).

In response to the unrest, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced plans for the government to take further action to alleviate challenges facing high school students and educational staff. These measures include ensuring continuity in classes, enhancing facilities, better structuring school days, and increasing transparency in the French university admissions system.

Lecornu also mentioned that the government is hastening the review of its "vandal-pays" legislation, focusing on making those responsible for damages accountable for their actions. The goal is to ensure that 75% of children finish their first year of schooling with adequate developmental progress by 2028.