France: 400 schools closed as student protests continue
Police have made around 2,000 arrests and scores of people have been injured as student protests spread across France. Ministers have called for a "day of dialogue" but students have called for further strike action.
Over 400 educational establishments in France remained shut on Friday amid ongoing student protests over education-related grievances. French Education Minister Edouard Geffray confirmed the closure, stating that the protests against teacher shortages, dilapidated school buildings and a lack of learning materials began in the Paris region last month and have now spread nationwide.
Police have made around 2,000 arrests and scores of individuals have been injured, including 40 high school principals. Fires were started in at least two high schools, and teachers were allegedly splashed with petrol at a third in Marseille. Riot police clashed with youths in Toulouse, and at least one car was torched in Strasbourg.
Damage in the southeastern region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes alone is estimated at €25 million. On Friday, more confrontations occurred between students and police in cities across the country, including Loire and Paris. However, students have also criticized the heavy-handed police response. Geffray accused "violent individuals" of infiltrating the protests and taking it over, urging parents to keep their children from participating.
He called for a meeting with student representatives and trade unions, emphasizing the need to ensure children's safety. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu revealed that French domestic intelligence agencies believe the movement was instigated by politicians from the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who supports the protests, has called for non-violent methods.
Student union bodies have called for a day of mass protest on October 6, demanding police be removed from schools.
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