Riot police clash with students as education protests rage in France
Thousands of high‑school pupils and other demonstrators have led a nationwide strike over the state of schools, tackling a serious shortage of teachers, overcrowding and crumbling buildings. The protests, beginning in Paris last week, have now spread to Montpellier, Nantes, Marseille and other cities.
At the centre of the escalating violence are clashes between students and riot police that have seen fires break out on streets, weapons seized and more than 1,700 arrests recorded. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced 1,747 people were taken into custody on Friday alone.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray warned that teachers were “not the people in front of them” while Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin noted the protests had "transformed" into a public order disturbance. A 17‑year‑old was detained for alleged attempted homicide after a police officer was attacked in Belfort.
Images released by police show petrol bombs, an axe and so‑called mortar fireworks in the hands of some demonstrators, and video footage confirming the brutal assault on an officer. The education ministry has also reported at least 65 staff injuries and significant damage to school facilities, with the Nelson Mandela High School in Nantes suffering over €2 million in losses.
Parents have expressed deep concern over the safety of their children, while teachers’ unions have joined the protests, declaring "their students have the freedom to assemble and demonstrate." Politician Emmanuel Macron’s campaign faces an unpredictable backdrop as the deployment of tear gas and fighting in suburban Paris raises questions about public safety ahead of the next election.
