Students across France have intensified protests over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school facilities, with demonstrations escalating into clashes, vandalism and fires in several cities.
The unrest, which began last week, spread to hundreds of secondary schools and at least 30 universities on Thursday, October 1, as students demanded increased staffing, improved infrastructure and better learning conditions.
In Nantes, western France, fires were reported at two high schools. At Nelson Mandela High School, a burning rubbish bin reportedly set the entrance of the building on fire, damaging the entrance hall.
Another school in Nantes was also affected, while footage showed flames burning at the entrance of a school in Rouen.
Violence was also reported in Marseille, where staff at Victor Hugo High School were reportedly splashed with petrol as protesters carried containers. At Saint-Exupery High School, demonstrators reportedly set a fire truck ablaze.
A headteacher at Degrugillier High School in Auchel sustained an ear injury after being struck by a firework during the unrest, while clashes and arrests were recorded in several locations.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting on Thursday as the demonstrations intensified.
The government subsequently said some of the protests had descended into what it described as “urban violence.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 625 people had been detained, while 83 police officers and gendarmes were injured. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said 119 people, including students and school employees, had also sustained injuries.
Students have cited inadequate numbers of teachers and supervisors, overcrowded classrooms and poorly maintained school buildings among their major grievances.
They have also complained about inadequate toilets, classrooms and canteen facilities.
Raphael, a 17-year-old student who participated in a demonstration in Strasbourg, said some classrooms at his school had leaking roofs and that there were not enough toilets. He also complained about limited cafeteria space, insufficient resources and a shortage of supervisors.
The protests have since spread to universities, with students blocking at least 30 campuses, including institutions in Paris and Rennes.
Public transport services were also disrupted in parts of the country. Services in Marseille and Strasbourg were suspended on Thursday following incidents involving vandalism, threats and attempts to prevent protesters from moving between locations.
The unrest has also triggered political disagreements, with government officials and politicians on the right accusing groups linked to the French left of encouraging the demonstrations.
Leaders on the left have denied responsibility for the violence while maintaining that students’ concerns over education and public services require government attention.
National Rally leader Marine Le Pen accused members of La France Insoumise of being behind the unrest and called for the introduction of a new anti-rioting law.
La France Insoumise leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon said he supported peaceful demonstrations and argued that blaming the political left would not address the underlying problems raised by students.
Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan condemned the violence in the city but acknowledged that young people had legitimate concerns about their future and the state of public services.
Meanwhile, Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti called for parents of young people found responsible for damaging school property to bear the cost of repairs.
The demonstrations have unfolded alongside wider public-sector protests over government spending plans. More than 350 high schools had reportedly been affected by Wednesday as the unrest continued to disrupt education across the country.
The French government is now under pressure to restore order while addressing complaints over staffing levels, school infrastructure and learning conditions.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray is expected to meet with student and union representatives as authorities consider measures aimed at preventing further disruption in schools.
