Key facts
- Hundreds of high schools across France have been affected by student protests.
- Protesters have blockaded schools, set bins on fire, and hurled projectiles at police.
- Police have responded with tear gas, batons, and detained hundreds of protesters.
- At least 10 teachers and several students were injured in the protests.
- One student reportedly lost part of a hand after firing a firework, and another suffered an eye injury.
Students across France have been protesting and blockading high schools, demanding better classroom conditions and more teachers. The movement, which began in the Paris region, has spread nationwide, with hundreds of schools affected by disruptions. Protesters have set fire to rubbish bins, vandalized property, and hurled projectiles at police, who have responded with tear gas, batons, and mass detentions.
According to officials, 440 people, mostly minors, have been arrested, and 76 have been injured, including students and staff. One student reportedly lost part of a hand due to a firework, and another sustained an eye injury. Education Minister Édouard Geffray condemned the violence, calling it "unspeakable" and "irresponsible," while Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that parents of those causing damage should pay reparations.
The protests have angered the government, with Geffray singling out the radical left party La France Insoumise (LFI) for allegedly stirring up trouble. The secondary school students' union USL has called for further action, including at universities, with some students expressing frustration that their grievances are met with force. Meanwhile, unions staged a day of nationwide demonstrations and strikes over the government's draft budget, with the head of the CGT union warning of recession if demands are not addressed.