France calls crisis meeting as school protests spread to universities

France is grappling with a growing wave of student protests, as Prime Minister Édouard Philippe convened an emergency session on Thursday and cancelled ministers' international trips to concentrate on the issue. The unrest, comprising both peaceful and violent demonstrations by high school students, stems from grievances such as under-resourced schools and demanding work schedules.

The protests, which began in the Paris region last week, have rapidly escalated, leading to hundreds of arrests and injuries in clashes with authorities. Many of the injured are due to objects thrown during confrontations, but some cases allegedly involve police using riot control measures.

The student-led demonstrations have become a focal point of the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for May, where incumbent President Emmanuel Macron, barred from seeking a third term, is the main target. This has put additional pressure on the government, which is also dealing with significant financial challenges.

Far-left presidential contender Jean-Luc Mélenchon has criticized the government's handling of the situation as repressive. However, his party has faced accusations of exploiting the unrest for political advantage and fueling the violence. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu directed ministers to cancel any upcoming official trips to allow authorities to focus on managing the protests.