Student-led protests that began near Paris have spread across France, forcing around 400 of the country's 3,700 high schools to close as pupils clash with police. Demonstrators complain of long hours, overheated classrooms and staff shortages, while authorities report dozens of injuries and significant school damage. Roughly 2,000 people have been detained—about 90% of them minors—and officials say they are pursuing talks with unions and student groups to calm the situation.
Hundreds of French High Schools Close as Student Protests Escalate Into Violence
Students have accused police of using excessive force (FRED TANNEAU)
Hundreds of French secondary schools were forced to close Friday as student protests that began in the Paris region spread nationwide, with pupils setting fires outside campuses and clashing with police.
What Happened
Older pupils at lycées have blocked access to buildings, staged sit-ins and confronted law enforcement. The demonstrators say their grievances include excessively long school hours, overcrowded or overheated classrooms and persistent staff shortages and absences. Local reporting and AFP photographers recorded fires at the entrances of two Paris lycées — Léonard-de-Vinci and Gaston-Bachelard — where firefighters were called to extinguish the blazes.
On the Ground
Education authorities estimated that roughly 400 of France’s approximately 3,700 high schools were closed on Friday; many others, notably in Marseille, switched to remote lessons for safety. Witnesses and journalists reported police deploying tear gas at multiple sites, including the Kerichen lycée in Brest, while students in Rennes gathered near heavy police presences, some wearing balaclavas.
“The high school student movement is being held hostage by ultra-violent fringe groups,” Education Minister Edouard Geffray said, warning of damage and injuries across institutions.
Casualties, Arrests and Damage
Authorities say at least 65 school staff have been injured since the unrest began, including about 40 headteachers, and roughly 170 students have been wounded. Officials reported that around 2,000 people have been taken into custody since the start of the protests, and that about 90% of those detained are minors. More than 100 schools have suffered what the ministry described as significant damage.
Political Response
The government has acknowledged the legitimacy of many student complaints but condemned episodes of what it calls “urban violence.” Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said he has asked prosecutors to consider holding parents financially liable for damage caused by their children. The authorities have also accused ultra-violent groups and suggested some political actors may be seeking to exploit the unrest; La France Insoumise (LFI) and senior figures such as Manuel Bompard deny orchestrating the protests.
Next Steps
To defuse tensions, Education Minister Geffray said he would meet education unions and high school student associations to seek a negotiated path forward. Officials have called on parents to dissuade children from joining dangerous street actions while talks and damage assessments continue.
Reporting from AFP and local outlets contributed to this summary.
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