France says up to 500 schools face closures amid protests

French authorities said hundreds of high schools across the country would be partly or fully closed on Monday, October 5, as student protests over school conditions continued and incidents of arson and clashes with police were reported. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said security conditions had not been met at 400 to 500 schools, while the education ministry separately counted 413 schools affected by actions or disruption by late Monday morning. The figures measure different things and should not be treated as a single closure tally. The demonstrations, which began in the Paris region in September and spread nationwide, have involved blockades and disrupted lessons. In Paris, Vauquelin secondary school closed for the day after people set fire to bins and flammable items at its entrance, according to the headteacher. Tensions were also reported near other schools in Paris and in Lyon and Lille. Reports from previous days described fires and clashes with police in several locations. The Interior Ministry was cited as reporting about 5,000 arrests between September 28 and October 2, with roughly 85% involving minors.