Nearly 400 schools remained closed across France on Friday as nationwide high school protests over staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms and poor school conditions intensified, with clashes between students and police reported in several cities.
Nearly 3,000 lyc e students have been taken into police custody since the protests began, according to the Interior Ministry, including 1,949 on Thursday alone, as per local media reports.
The protests, which began in the Paris region last week, have spread across the country and increasingly turned violent. Education Minister douard Geffray said about 400 of France’s 3,700 high schools were expected to remain closed on Friday, while around 100 schools have suffered severe damage, France 24  news reported.
In Paris, fires damaged the entrances of two high schools, while police used tear gas to disperse protesters in Brest.
Further clashes were reported in Strasbourg, Marseille, Nantes and other cities.
Justice Minister G rald Darmanin has urged prosecutors to pursue civil liability claims against parents for damage allegedly caused by their children.Geffray said at least 65 staff members, including 40 high school principals, had been injured, while about 170 students were also wounded. He described the violence as an attempt by “ultra-violent fringe groups” to take over the student movement.
The students have raised concerns over long school hours, overcrowded classes, teacher shortages, staff absences and inadequate facilities, including classrooms that became excessively hot during heatwaves.
Students considered the closure of their school a success and accused police of excessive force.
The protests have also acquired a political dimension ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election, with the government accusing the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) of encouraging the movement. LFI official Manuel Bompard rejected the accusation, saying the government was “descending into conspiracy theories”.
Geffray is set to meet education unions and high school student associations on Friday in an effort to open dialogue and ease tensions.
