Violent French Student Protests Force Closure of Hundreds of Schools

Hundreds of French high schools were forced to close or shift to remote learning on Friday as violent protests, initially sparked in the Paris region, spread nationwide. Teenage students, many in their final years of secondary education, set fires outside school buildings and engaged in direct confrontations with law enforcement, marking an intensification of a movement that began last week.

Students cite chronic understaffing, inadequate infrastructure, and excessively long school days as primary grievances. Simon, a 15-year-old student in central Paris who spoke on condition of anonymity, highlighted the severity of resource shortages. “For a whole year, we didn’t have a science teacher. We don’t have any textbooks,” he said. “And still, we’re the lucky ones. It’s even worse in the suburbs.”

The scale of disruption is significant. Education Minister Edouard Geffray reported that classes were interrupted at more than 560 of the country’s 3,700 high schools, though the interior ministry noted figures rose above 1,000 on Thursday. Cities such as Marseille have largely moved to online instruction. The violence has resulted in substantial casualties among staff and students; Geffray stated that at least 65 employees, including 40 principals, have been injured, while approximately 170 students have been wounded. Over 100 schools have suffered severe physical damage.

Government officials have condemned the unrest, characterizing it as urban violence orchestrated by radical elements rather than a legitimate educational reform movement. Minister Geffray asserted that the student movement is being “held hostage by ultra-violent fringe groups” and urged parents to keep their children at home, emphasizing the safety risks. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that prosecutors have been instructed to hold parents financially liable for damages caused by minors during the protests.

Darmanin revealed to RTL that roughly 2,000 individuals have been taken into custody since the protests began, with 90 percent identified as minors. In western France, tensions remained high outside institutions like Jean-Mace high school in Rennes, where students in balaclavas faced heavy police presence. Protester Lola, 16, expressed frustration at what she described as excessive police force, stating, “As far as we’re concerned, we’ve won — our school is closed this morning.”

The unrest carries political weight as France approaches presidential elections in roughly six months. The government has accused the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, led by presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, of instigating the demonstrations. LFI official Manuel Bompard dismissed these allegations, accusing the administration of resorting to conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, police have reported using tear gas in various locations, including Clermont-Ferrand and Brest, as demonstrations continued across the country.