Hundreds of French high schools shut as new violence erupts
French high school students lit fires outside schools and faced off with police on Friday as a protest movement that has forced the closure of some 400 establishments showed no sign of abating. The movement, which began last week in the Paris region and rapidly spread nationwide, has seen teenage pupils at lycees in their final years of schooling block access to buildings and clash with police.…
French high school students protested against long school hours, inadequate conditions, and staff absences, causing 400 schools to close across the country on Friday. The unrest, which originated in Paris and spread nationwide, saw students block access to buildings and clash with police. Education Minister Edouard Geffray described the student movement as being held hostage by "ultra-violent fringe groups."
Students have accused police of excessive force, resulting in injuries to 65 staff members and 170 students, while over 100 schools suffered severe damage. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has called on parents to hold their children accountable for damages caused during the protests. The tension remained high in Rennes, where students threatened to continue the protests as their high school remained closed.
The government has blamed the hard-left France Unbowed party for the movement, but a senior LFI official denied any involvement. To ease tensions, Geffray met with education unions and student associations to find a common ground for dialogue.
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