Posted by Chinenye on Fri 02nd Oct, 2026 - tori.ng
Hundreds of schools in France have been closed as students continue protesting over poor school conditions and a lack of teachers and other staff.
(Student Protesting. Photo by News Central TV)
France has closed about 400 high schools after a week of student protests over school conditions and staff shortages.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray said about 400 of the country's 3,700 high schools were closed on Friday.
He said the movement had been taken over by ultra-violent fringe groups.
The protests started in the Paris region last week and spread across the country.
Students have blocked school entrances and clashed with police in several cities.
They are angry about long school hours, poor school conditions and staff shortages.
They also complain about overheated classrooms and teachers who are often absent.
The government has admitted the concerns but condemned the violence linked to some of the protests.
Many schools have moved classes online, especially in the southern city of Marseille.
Geffray told BFMTV that at least 65 school staff have been injured since the protests began, including 40 high school principals.
He said parents must step up and tell their children not to go to the protests, and that students should stay off the streets because of the risks.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said about 2,000 people have been arrested since the protests began, and about 90 percent of them are minors.
He said he has asked prosecutors to hold parents responsible for damage caused by their children and called for parents to pay for repairs.
The protests have included blockades, clashes with police and arson.
Online reported that fires were set at several schools and that police clashed with youths in cities including Marseille, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
Students, teachers and other staff have been injured.
Earlier reports showed more than 350 high schools had been affected by Wednesday.
The government has urged schools to move classes online where protests or damage make it unsafe for students to attend.
Students are still demanding better learning conditions and more staff.
The protests have become a big issue for the French government, which is also under pressure over its proposed 2027 budget.