French School Protests Spread Amid Clashes and Arrests

High school protests over staffing shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school conditions have spread across France, with demonstrations involving blockades and, in some locations, fires and clashes with police. French authorities reported more than 5,000 arrests since the beginning of the week and said hundreds of schools were affected, though the figures have different reporting periods and were not independently confirmed in the material reviewed. Students and teachers have described complaints including teacher absences, inadequate facilities and unequal educational opportunities. The demonstrations have disrupted classes at schools across the country. On Friday, Education Minister Édouard Geffray said about 735 educational establishments had been affected. A separate report said about 400 high schools remained closed that day, without specifying the same measure of disruption. Accounts describe students blocking school entrances and setting fire to bins or other objects. Some demonstrations involved clashes with police, who used tear gas to disperse protesters in certain locations. Reports also described fires damaging school buildings.