France Closes Hundreds of Schools as Student Protests Spread Across the Country

France Closes Hundreds of Schools as Student Protests Spread Across the Country
——————————–
More than 400 educational institutions have been temporarily closed in France amid expanding student protests, with authorities reporting injuries among students, school staff and security forces as demonstrations spread from secondary schools to universities.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray said some institutions were closed because of damage caused during protests or because authorities could not guarantee the safety of students and staff. He reported that at least 170 students and 65 education employees had been injured since the protests began, including dozens of secondary school principals.

Police said nearly 1,950 people were detained during protests on Thursday, while around 305 police officers and gendarmes were reported injured amid clashes and acts of vandalism in some locations.

The demonstrations began among secondary school students, with protesters blocking entrances to several schools before the movement expanded to universities. Students have been calling for improvements to educational conditions, citing concerns including overcrowded classrooms, staff shortages, deteriorating school buildings, long study hours and poor classroom conditions in some areas.