France Closes 500 upto Schools As Student Protests Turn Violent

France is set to close up to 500 high schools today. Some will shut fully, while others will close partly. Education Minister Édouard Geffray had announced the plan on Sunday. He said the schools could not meet the needed safety and security conditions. However, he promised that lessons would resume slowly and in stages. The closures follow days of protests by high school students. Pupils say they do not have enough teachers, and their buildings are in poor shape. They also complain about crowded classes and very long school days. Valérie Pécresse leads the Île-de-France region. She said more than a third of its 468 schools would stay closed. Since then, they have spread to Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Nantes and Toulouse.

Paris and its suburbs face the heaviest disruption. The protests began near Paris as Teachers and pupils first rallied at a Paris-area high school in September. The Union Syndicale Lycéenne had earlier urged a nationwide blockade, while asking protesters to stay peaceful. Wider anger has also fed the movement. The unrest also comes as unions oppose a cost-cutting budget drafted by Lecornu’s government. Public sector workers, including teachers and firefighters, have joined a day of action too; over public services, high fuel prices and tight household budgets. Geffray has called the movement legitimate at the outset, but the violence has changed the debate. Whether Tuesday brings calm or fresh clashes remains unclear.

Teacher Shortages, Crowded Classes And Long Days Explain Why French Students Took To The Streets

The closures follow days of protests by high school students. Students say their schools are failing to meet basic needs. Many lessons go untaught because teachers are absent and no substitute arrives, as a result, pupils miss classes and fall behind. Hence, they want more substitute teachers to cover lessons. Students also mentioned how their classrooms are also fully packed, learning becomes harder due to lack of proper communication between teachers and students, when the classroom is over crowded. In addition, students point to run-down buildings and classrooms that overheat during summer heatwaves. They also object to long school days and heavy timetables.

Money is the second big reason. Last Thursday, the government shared its draft 2027 budget. It raises education spending by 1.7% to €65.53 billion, not counting teacher pensions. However, that increase is lower than expected inflation. Students say this ignores years of under-investment. Education Minister Édouard Geffray defended the rise and pointed partly to France’s falling population. The government calls the students’ concerns fair, but it condemns the violence and blames far-left figures. La France Insoumise, the left-wing to far-left political party in France denies these accusations.

Burned Schools And 5,000 Arrests Push France To Close Classrooms While Lecornu Promises Fixes

The protests have also turned violent. Geffray said 24 schools had been burned or ransacked since the unrest began. He added that at least 170 students and 78 education staff had been injured, a figure he called unprecedented. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 735 of roughly 3,700 schools were affected by Friday. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police arrested 1,747 people on Friday alone. AFP reports more than 5,000 arrests overall, and about 85% of those held are minors. Students have accused police of using excessive force. Amnesty International said young protesters should be heard, not repressed. Authorities have opened several investigations.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu promised to keep classes running and improve school buildings. He also plans to make the university admissions platform more transparent. A “vandal-pays” bill will be reviewed faster, so those who cause damage cover the cost. However, student organizers say the steps are not concrete enough, and they have called new protests for Tuesday. Geffray argues that far-left activists have hijacked the movement. However, Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France Insoumise says blaming the left will not solve the problems. Emmanuel Denis, the mayor of Tours, has called the students’ demands legitimate.

Web resources on French student protests

1. France24 : Hundreds of schools to shut Monday as France braces for more student protests.
2. BBC : France closes up to 500 schools Monday over student protests.
3. Independent : ‘We will not stop’, Students’ blunt message as school protests spread across France.
4. Guardian : Europe French education minister says up to 500 schools could remain closed on Monday after student protests.
5. Reuters : Hundreds of French schools stay closed ahead of nationwide day of student protests.